After 23 years in the rental business we at Camelot Party Rentals have got a solid foundation when it comes to tenting events. Tents are no longer just for Girl Scouts and die hard campers, these days they are an elegant affordable way to have an indoor outdoor wedding. Here are Camelot Party Rental’s top reasons to tent your wedding.

By Tasha Wheeler Director of Sales and Events Designer for Camelot Party Rentals
For more info: http://www.camelotpartyrentals.biz

The biggest mistake you can make budget wise is spending money on things that will never be noticed by your guest. If you’re going to spend the extra money try these WOW-packed ideas:

Lighting: Order a custom-made gobo light of your monogram, or project a design from your wedding invitation over the dance floor.

Ceremony Decor: Ask your florist to cover a canopy with lush flowers and hanging votive candles or blossom-bedecked lanterns to create vocal points. Your guest will love it!

The Entryway: Ask the servers to greet guest with glasses of champagne or a signature cocktail so that they feel taken care of from the moment they enter the wedding reception. This is a good idea considering you will not be making your grand entrance upon their arrival for at least 15-30 minutes later.

The Photo Booth: With some of the rental packages, you can get projections of pictures from the photo booth. So while the guest snap photos inside the booth, the images will appear over the dance floor for all to see- and it provides a awesome way to brighten the dance floor.

Lounge Area: Really want to amaze your guest; try closing off an area with curtains and rent some lounge furniture, curtains, draping, and special lighting to create the VIP chic vibe.

Reception PowerPoint: Create a PowerPoint or video that showcase your lives as a couple (vacation videos, pictures, etc) have it play on a screen behind the head table and play it during your fist dance.

From - Kesha King - Opulent Custom Event Planning 
www.opulentcustomeventplanning.com  

Do you want your wedding gown to stand out? An Enlighted Wedding Dress is the answer!

This gorgeous wedding dress was made even more special by the installation of about 300 warm white LEDs throughout the skirt. The lights simulated the effect of candlelight with the gold-tinted color of the LEDs, and with a soft random flickering pattern. The lights were arranged in a random pattern, with the density increasing towards the bottom of the skirt. The batteries were hidden inside the wider part of the skirt, and the lights were turned on by remote control. 
See video at http://www.saltlakebride.com/blog/how-to-make-your-wedding-gown-unique.htm 

 

So as not to be outdone, these are also available for the groom in tuxedos. 

At your wedding or any other time, your great smile and perfect physique may not be enough to compensate for your fumbling through a 12- to 20-piece formal place setting. Instead of sentencing yourself to a fake-it-till-you-make-it evening, brush up on your grace with our brief etiquette spread. Or learn how to set the table for a proper wedding lunch or dinner.

Warning:
Because the primary purpose of etiquette is to make people feel comfortable in social situations by establishing accepted standards, the most egregious thing a person can do is use it pretentiously, especially by openly correcting anyone. Etiquette — “a code of behavior based on thoughtfulness,” according to The Emily Post Institute — isn’t to be wielded like a weapon of arrogance or superiority.

Decorative plate
The charger plate serves as an under plate for one or more courses before the main entree is served, at which point the plate will likely be removed.

Tear it
Your bread plate is always to your upper left, above your forks. Do not slice and butter your entire roll or biscuit at once. Rather, you should eat it by tearing off bite-sized pieces with your hands; butter each piece individually as you eat.

Keep it straight
At crowded tables where settings are tightly placed, it’s often confusing which glasses and side plates are designated to each guest. Just remember, solids go to your left (butter, salad plate, etc.) and liquids to your right.

Don’t soil the cloth
Used utensils should never be set directly onto the table. If you are finished, or resting your fork or spoon momentarily during conversation, set your fork or spoon on its given dish or horizontally on the top of the charger plate. If a neighbor accidentally takes your plate, don’t use your other neighbor’s; instead, discreetly ask the server for another plate.

Prong preparation
Forks are placed in the order their course is served. Work from outside inward. If there are three forks: salad (left), fish/appetizer (center), main entree (right).

Contrary to the more practical continental style, there is an American insistence that no food morsel — not even a stubborn pea! — should be aided onto the fork. In Europe, on the other hand, it is permitted to use a knife or bread to assist the food onto your fork.

Knives & cutting
Never cut more than one or two bites at a time. Emily Post coined the American “Zig-zag” cutting technique still in use today, a style that says the diner should hold the fork, tines down, in her left hand and the knife in her right. After cutting one or two morsels she should place the knife down (not on the table), and transfer the fork to the right hand where the food is lifted to the mouth. The left hand rests in the lap. Always cut by drawing the knife toward you, never cut in a back-and-forth sawing motion. Knives are always placed with cutting edge toward the plate. A butter knife (not shown here) is placed diagonally across the butter plate, handle to the right.

Glassware
These crystal babies can number anywhere from two to five depending on the place setting; most of those glasses are customarily designated for alcohol. Don’t turn your glass over to refuse an alcoholic drink; instead, politely refuse verbally. Your water goblet is placed directly above your dinner knife. You may sip water after everyone is seated, but wait to drink anything else until everyone has been served or your host invites you to do otherwise.

The scoop on spoons
Spoons are placed to the right of the knives. Scoop away from yourself with soup, toward you with everything else. And slurp quietly — don’t sip — from the side of the spoon, not its end, when eating soup. It’s OK, even flattering to the hostess, to tilt the bowl away from you to scoop the last dribble of soup.

Napkins
Napkins are placed on the charger plate or to the left of the forks. It belongs on your lap, not tucked in your shirt like a bib. It is to be laid on your lap, folded in half, with the fold toward you. Dab your mouth often. If you’re done eating or must excuse yourself from the table momentarily, fold the napkin next to your plate or hang it over the back of your chair. Never leave it on your seat.

Dessert
The dessert fork and spoon are placed above the charger plate: the bowl of the spoon to the left, and fork’s tines to the right. At more formal occasions, they are brought in separately with the dessert.

In general:
•Pass dishes to your right, counterclockwise.
•The salt and pepper are always passed together.

Sources: “Emily Post’s Etiquette, 17th Edition,” by Peggy Post; “From Hand to Mouth, Or, How We Invented Knives, Forks, Spoons and Chopsticks, and the Manners to Go with Them,” by James Cross Giblin; “The History of Manners” by Norbert Elias.

See our complete designed page by downloading the PDF version HERE.

By Jacob Hancock
Mormon Times - Apr. 15, 2010
E-mail: jhancock@desnews.com
Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company
http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_living/tips_living/?id=14371

45 percent of women are interested in buying their fiancees engagement bands. What do you think??

Wedding Engagement Rings for the Groom? - If you like him, put a ring on him!

Say “engagement ring” and you probably picture a little velvet box that the harried groom-to-be, or groom-to-be-rejected, is fumbling around with in his pocket. At that right moment, he will stop, drop and propose.

The often diamond-crusted band will be given to the future bride, representing a quasi-contractual commitment to stand on high heels in a receiving line at a bedazzled stake center gym for four hours.

In return, sometimes she receives another ring, perhaps to be soldered together.

But what about the groom? It’s becoming increasingly popular for ladies to want their beaus to visibly take themselves off the market as well via a new trend that bears the charming portmanteau “man-gagemet rings.”

According to a survey on brides.com, 45 percent of women are interested in buying their fiancees engagement bands.

Some suspect this is an offshoot of our modern era in which it’s increasingly common for the girl to take matters into her own hands and pop the question; others think it’s merely a marketing ploy.

Jewelers could certainly make a pretty penny off the trend — though few brothers are going to be strutting around, showing off the brand new bling during Elders Quorum.

Most are simple, diamond-less band designs, manly engravings a la the One Ring.

A mass-market jewelry chain in the United Kingdom is even trying to draw new etiquette lines, asserting the man-gagement ring is to be worn on the ring finger of the left hand until the wedding, after which it is transferred to the same finger on the right hand, with the wedding band, of course, worn on the left.

This seems excessive, but it signifies the fascinating dichotomy between men and women, and wedding rings in general. While most women wear their rings without fail, post-nuptials, many men opt to go band-less after marriage.

An aversion from jewelry to history: Wedding rings for men didn’t come into popularity until after World War II.

Although today it’s customary in both religious and secular wedding ceremonies for the couple to exchange rings, the husband will likely leave his on the dresser or watch, horrified, as it bounces down the drain, never to be replaced.

While some may think that’s no big deal, husbands should remember that not wearing a ring, especially if you’re still college-aged, sends out the message, “I’m available.”

Brenton Pendleton, 22, who’s been married to his wife Jackie for just over a year, said that when he wears his ring it helps him “stay on the right path” by keeping her in his thoughts.

When he doesn’t wear his ring, “she asks ‘who are you trying to impress?’” he said. “Of course she’s kidding… but I think it’s still important for couples to wear their rings. It lets people know you’re taken.”

President David O. McKay once said, “That high view of marriage in the mind of that young bridegroom, and the appreciation of the sacredness of marriage by the bride, I think is one of the sublimest things in all the world.”

Take a high view of marriage and realize wearing your wedding ring is symbolic of your eternal commitment. It’s a good thing. Don’t treat it lightly.

Avoid awkward situations where you have to tell an overly friendly girl in class or at work you’re married. Your wife is likely wearing her ring with confidence and contentment — and you should too, be it one ring… or two.

By Emily Schmuhl
http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/mormon_experience/?id=13513&
Mormon Times
Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010
E-mail: eschmuhl@desnews.com

MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company

If you’re looking for ideas- here they are. Fifty different ideas in total- all divided into categories that you can pick from.   Seasonal/Holiday Favors 

• Candy canes 
  

• Mini Easter baskets filled with foil-wrapped chocolate eggs 
  

• Little plastic pumpkins filled with candy corn 
  

• Simple Christmas ornaments 
  

• Blow-up beach balls with your names and/or your wedding colors 
  

• Miniature heart-shaped boxes of Valentine’s chocolates 
  

• Miniature watering cans filled with spring blooms 
  

• Chocolate coins in gold foil 
  

• Sparklers 
  

• Easter eggs (that you’ve colored yourselves) 
  

• Miniature pots of clover (four-leaf?) for St. Patty’s Day 
  

Keepsake Favors 

• A copy of a memorable photo you have of you (or both of you) with each guest 
  

• A pretty picture frame  (more…)

One of the best ways for you to add a special touch to your wedding is personalizing.    Many couples choose to personalize an item of their wedding so that people will have a more memorable time. Personalization ranges from initials to the wedding date, to your full names, and everything in between. Here are the most common ways/items to personalize.

Ribbon- This is probably the least expensive and the most used way to personalize your wedding. The ribbon comes with your names and/or wedding date printed on 12” lengths. There will usually be a minimum order amount, so if you are having less than 100 guests, you may want to find something else. These ribbons are typically used to tie up the tulle that you put Jordan almonds in. They can, of course, be used for other things as well.

Napkins- This is a very easy way to personalize your wedding, and everyone is sure to see it. Most companies will be able to print several lines on the napkin, which means you can include more information that on ribbon. You could have your names, date, place, and even a cute saying (ex: “Our love is forever.”). Plus, you can be sure that you’ll be able to find your wedding colors.

Candy or Chocolate- This is one of the most fun ways to personalize your wedding. There are many candy companies out there that will personalize the wrappers of the candy to have your names, wedding date, or anything else on them. So if you’re not on of those lucky few whose initials spell M & M, you’re still in luck. This kind of personalizing can be cheap, but you may sacrifice quality for price.

Gifts- This is by far the most expensive way to personalize, mostly because of the cost of what’s being personalized. However, these items can range anywhere from golf tees to jewelry. The more simple gifts, like golf tees, matchbooks, or magnets can be used as favors. Generally, the more expensive gifts are used as thank-you’s for the bridal party and any close relatives that helped in the wedding planning. Many gifts that you choose can be personalized, from teddy bears to golf clubs; even if you don’t buy it at a place that does personalization, you can find a place that will do personalize outside purchases. This will really give a special touch to the gifts that you give your loved ones.

Whether you choose to personalize your favors or not, they may still be quite personal. For example, if you and your fiancé are gardeners, you may choose to give seeds or potted plants and those would be just as personal as almonds tied with personalized ribbon.