Frugal couples might think a backyard wedding will spare them some of the stress and expense of tying the knot.
But experts warn that poorly planned home nuptials can be just as nerve-racking as a fairy-tale wedding at a chichi chateau.
“I would never recommend doing (a wedding) at home just to save money,” says Michelle Gillette, owner of a Denver party-planning company. “People who choose to have their ceremonies at home would have to have a romantic attachment to that space because it’s more difficult to do than people think.”
The upside to home weddings is they provide the opportunity to really personalize the event.
http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19349000&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475591&rfi=6
See also wedding planning ideas
Not just a little girl’s prized plaything, Barbie also is a collector’s item, a fashion icon and a pop culture perennial. And for one Miami bride whose childhood love for the doll has never waned, Barbie was the basis for a pretty-in-pink bridal shower with an upscale edge. Design director Richard Randall of Miami’s A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team, which designed and catered the 120-guest springtime fête, says his team’s challenge was in finding ways to give the decidedly youthful theme an appropriately “adult swing.”
http://specialevents.com/themes/Barbie_theme_Bridal_Shower_0201/
Find out more about bridal showers and Bridal Shower Invitation Ideas
Last year, the average price of a diamond engagement ring was $3,200, according to the Diamond Information Center in New York. That figure represents a $600 increase over the average purchase price for engagement rings purchased in 2001.
Find a reputable jeweler, preferably one who belongs to a trade association, such as Jewelers of America, which sets high ethical standards and provides members with continuing education.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07346/840838-51.stm
Also see inexpensive engagement rings
