If youre like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting in envelopes. Pictures from birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You have already put the best snapshots into albums and these are leftovers. You dont want to throw them away, but you also dont know what to do with them.
Instead of letting your snapshots take up space and contribute to the clutter in your home, use them to make collages at a cost of less than $10 each that you can give as Christmas gifts to family and friends. Heres how:

Assess your collection of pictures. Do you have several dozen of your spouse or significant other Your parents Your children Grandparents A friend A beloved pet Decide which person would like to receive these pictures and divide them into groups accordingly.
Buy a picture frame with glass either 5x7 or 8x10 for each collage you are going to make. Department stores sometimes have sales on picture frames, and you can often purchase a suitable frame for $5 or less.
Cut a sheet of paper use cardstock, 24# paper or light cardboard to match the size of the opening on the picture frame.
Cut out the background of the pictures, leaving just the people or pets. Cut out enough pictures to cover the sheet of paper.
Arrange the cut-out pictures on the paper. Mix and match and experiment. Try placing the pictures at different angles.
After you have an idea of how you would like to arrange the pictures, glue them to the paper. Check the label to make sure that you can use the glue with photographs. Cover the entire sheet of paper with pictures.
When the glue is dry, insert the paper into the frame.

Collages are not only a good way to use your old snapshots, but the recipients also will cherish them for years to come as a special and thoughtful gift.
© 2003 LeAnn R. Ralph

About The Author

LeAnn R. Ralph is a freelance writer in Wisconsin, is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers Assoc. and is the author of the book: Christmas In Dairyland True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm August 2003; trade paperback http://ruralroute2.com
bigpines@ruralroute2.com

By now, surely everyones familiar with the unity candle, but did you know there are other unification ceremonies to choose from when planning your wedding
Although the unity candle seems to have been with us forever, in reality its only about ten years old. During those years, more "two-become-one" motifs have arrived to round out the theme.
Unification ceremonies are not only a symbol of togetherness, theyre also flexible elements of a wedding. These ceremonies can be "opened up" to include important family members, such as the bridal couples parents. Children from previous marriages can play a part, as can the entire congregation in a smaller wedding. Candle and rose ceremonies are common choices for adapting in this way.
Unification ceremonies can also be "stacked." Its not unusual to find a wedding that includes a hand and water ceremony, for example, or a wine and rose ceremony. Some couples play music during these ceremonies and others dont.
The timing of unification ceremonies varies by wedding, but they most often take place directly before or after the exchange of vows. These ceremonies may be especially important in non-religious weddings, which may end too quickly otherwise!
Lets look at some alternatives to the Unity Candle ceremony:
* Rose Ceremony
The rose ceremony is a flexible, informal ceremony especially suited to an interfaith or non-religious wedding, not to mention a garden wedding! In the rose ceremony, bride and groom exchange a single rose as their first married gift to each other. They are asked to recall this symbol of their love during the more trying seasons of marriage.
* Hand Ceremony
In the hand ceremony, the bride takes the grooms hands in hers, palms up. The officiant invites her to view his hands as a gift, and says: "These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as together you laugh and cry, and together you share your innermost secrets and dreams."
The groom then takes the brides hands, palm side up. The officiant says, "They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness, as she promises her love and commitment to you all the days of her life."
* Knot Ceremony
In the knot ceremony, the mothers of the bridal couple are given a cord, which the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The couple ties a lovers knot, which they may save to look back on later.
* Sand, Water and Wine Ceremonies
These are all mixing ceremonies suited to a Unitarian or interfaith wedding. The sand ceremony is said to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach weddings. In each case, the bride and groom pour sand or liquid from two separate vials into one. In the wine ceremony, they drink the mixed wine.
A nice touch is to have the bride pour white wine while the groom pours red. You can then serve ros

India is a diverse, multi-cultural country with people of various religions, communities and sects living together in harmony and peace. Each community has its own set of religious rituals, traditions and multitudes of customs inherited from ancestors. Arranged marriage is one such common custom handed down over generations. Arranged marriage has played an important role in Indian marriages. This concept is even today accepted by millions of Indians in India and abroad. Marriages, initiated by elders, were arranged with the help of an aunt or the priest. Over a period of time this has slowly transitioned from the marriage brokers to the newspapers and now onto the Internet.
Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate. Today, there are several matrimonial sites some aimed to a particular community/religion and some to the general public. These sites literally make the world seem a smaller place. The concept of online matrimonial has become increasingly popular because it gives people up-front, at the click of a mouse, access to thousands of eligible singles, which neither newspapers nor marriage bureaus can ever offer. It has tremendously expanded the reach of every marriageable individual by exposing him/her to the millions of eligible Indians who visit these sites. Increasingly, many individuals and families spend their valuable time online searching for the perfect partner for themselves or their loved ones. It is interesting to see that these sites are visited by conservative parents, relatives; who believe in the sanctity of arranged marriages and also by those for whom falling in love is the way to go.
There are many wedding and wedding related sites on the net like http://www.BridesandGroomsIndia.com, http://www.WeddingSutra.com, http://www.MyAstroHelpline.com, etc. which understand the focus of the new age matrimonial net surfers and offer them several attractive services. These kind of sites have made it possible to find a partner, match the horoscopes, book a marriage hall and then do all the wedding shopping online. Many Indians are hooked on to this concept as it is safe, saves a lot of time and presents a wider choice in every aspect.
It is interesting to see how the Indian marriage scene has changed over the years. Though Indians have become tech savvy and jumped on the Internet bandwagon to find the Mr./Mrs. Right, but still the Indian customs, the traditions, the core values remain the same.

About The Author

Roopa Nair is an Indian freelance writer and a computer professional.

"Til death do us part" is still the language used in most weddings. Couples enter marriage with the hope of making a lifetime commitment. If this goal is not reached or if a spouse dies, the desire to be a couple is so ingrained that most will marry again.
The inability of the marriage laws to meet the needs of many couples makes the concept of a marital agreement quite positive, despite the bad publicity premarital agreements have reached. The freedom to structure a relationship should not be determined by laws that do not reflect the changing realities of family life in American today.
There is no firm tradition of marital contracts in our country because of the inherent resistance of comparing love to a business deal. Many civilized societies through the ages, however, have documented marital agreements with written documents.
Celebrities and the media have made couples aware of the concept of a contract executed between a married couple, whether terming it a premarital, prenuptial, antenuptial or postmarital agreement. The rich have known about them for years, but middle-class America, alarmed about the rising divorce rate, is anxious to know more.
Who Needs Them
Anyone about to enter a marriage who is concerned about the inadequacies of the laws in the face of todays social realities;
Anyone who is remarrying;
Anyone concerned about protecting the assets of children from a prior marriage;
Anyone who has a financially dependent parent;
Business owners, particularly of professional practices and particularly those with business partners, because a spouse effectively becomes a silent partner in the business;
Anyone with significant separate property in states where a spouse is entitled to a share of income from separate property.
Anyone whose intended spouse has significant premarital responsibilities, such as alimony, child support, or tax obligations.
Anyone cautious enough to prefer a written record of the ownership of assets to avoid confusion in the future from creditors or other family members.
Its not romantic; its practical. And limiting a spouses take upon divorce is far from the only purpose, despite the perception gleaned from the popular press. Doesnt it make sense to make decisions under the best of circumstances instead of during the emotional upheaval of a troubled relationship
As with most things, theres good news and bad news about private marital contracts. The openness needed for such an agreement is good for a relationship; the implication of a lack of trust is bad. A marital contract can avoid expensive and emotionally debilitating divorce trials, but its expensive to enforce any contract in court. Such an agreement will reduce to writing the agreement for division of property upon divorce, although it can prevent a spouse from obtaining marital rights upon divorce.
The love and the law newsletter is written by Johnette Duff, Attorney at Law*
Copyright 2003 by Johnette Duff
Ms. Duff is licensed in the State of Texas
www.loveandthelaw.com

About The Author

Johnette Duff is a matrimonial attorney licensed in the state of Texas. She is also the author of three books on love and the law; The Spousal Equivalent Handbook, The Marriage Handbook and Love After 50. Ms. Duff has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, in The Wall Street Journal, Self, New Woman, Smart Money and Modern Maturity and has been a guest on hundreds of radio talk shows.
info@loveandthelaw.com

Whether you want to add a little extra romance to an evening reception or a little glow to your house of worship, candles are a natural, effortless addition to your wedding theme. Youll have no trouble finding a role for candles at the wedding ceremony, at the reception, and even as part of the floral displays.
Unity Candles
Join the growing number of couples who include a unity candle as part of the wedding ceremony. Perhaps you think that unity candles are steeped in a rich history of religious tradition, or perhaps you think that unity candles are the invention of the candle makers to sell an extra candle or 10,000. Neither is the case. The exact evolution of the unity candle is uncertain, but since it began 30-40 years ago, it seems that we have that ever-lively 60s generation to thank for yet another custom that has wormed its way into modern life.
Id like to propose my own idea of the unity candles origin

The wedding cake is one of the most important features of your reception. In fact, it is the centerpiece of your reception. You should begin shopping for a baker 6-8 months before the wedding. If you plan on having your reception catered, ask your caterer if they will bake your wedding cake. However, you do not have to choose the caterer to bake your cake. You can also buy cakes from commercial and boutique bakeries, custom wedding cake designer, a culinary school or someone you know who makes cakes from home.
Begin by calling bakeries or cake decorators in your area to check for date availability. If they are available, make an appointment to go in and check out the designs, taste and skill level of the business. Many specialty cake decorators require that you book six months to a year in advance to reserve your date, whereas commercial bakeries may require 3 months due to larger staff and their ability to do a larger quantity of cakes.
Since most weddings are on the weekends, bakers deadlines also coincide with that timetable. A phone call to make an appointment to visit with the individual or bakery about your cake will be appreciated. If you just walk in and expect undivided attention, you may be disappointed if they do not have time to visit with you at that time.
Ask the baker to provide samples of the cake flavors, icings, fillings, etc., during your interview. The taste, flavor and texture of the cake itself will be the most important decision you will make when you order your cake. The outside beauty of your wedding cake will be important for your pictures and your personal statement, but the inside of the cake is what you will be serving to your guests. You want a cake that is flavorful, moist and good to eat.
Before your meeting with the baker, collect pictures of wedding cakes that appeal to you. Be sure to take those pictures with you on your interviews so that you can give your baker an illustrated idea of what you are looking for in a wedding cake. Here are some key questions you need to ask them:

Flexibility-Will they bake a cake according to your specifications
Is the cake made from scratch or is it from a cake mix
Request to see pictures of their work. Most bakers will have a portfolio of their cakes.
Certain cakes are not good for particular seasons. For example, if you are planning an outdoor wedding in August, you want to avoid cakes with mousse, meringue, whipped cream or buttercream filling. Ask the baker what cakes are in season.
What is the price per serving Prices can average between $1.50 a slice to $15 a slice depending on the cake you choose. The price depends on frosting, decorations, architecture, etc. Understand that the more elaborate the cake, the more expensive the "per serving" price will be.
What are the extra charges Most bakers charge for renting the pillars, columns, cake toppers, delivery and set-up. There may also be extra charges for certain cake fillings, flavors, styles, etc.
Who will be setting up the cake
What do they provide in the set-up Talk to your baker about how youd like the cake table to be set up.
If you plan on using fresh flowers on your cake, who is responsible for providing the flowers, the baker or the florist

When interviewing the baker, make sure you know the number of servings required, your desired type and design, and your budget for the cake. Be up front with the baker about the maximum amount you are willing to spend on your cake and ask them if they are willing to negotiate. Click here to see how you can save money on your wedding cake.
After you have decided on a baker and all the details, make sure to get everything in writing. Your contract should include the following:

Detailed description of the cake type, style, and description of the decorations.
The number of layers and fillings for each layer if applicable.
Type of frosting.
Wedding date, time and location of delivery
When, how, where and by whom the cake will be delivered or picked up. Make sure to include the complete address where the cake is to be delivered.
Name and contact information of the baker
List of rented items pillars, cake stand, cake table, etc.
Delivery and set-up fees
Total price
Deposit amount
Balance and due date
Bakers cancellation and/or refund policy

If you do your homework, buying your wedding cake will be a smooth process. Remember to be realistic, and dont spend your entire wedding budget on your wedding cake.

About The Author

Tom Tsatsos

http://www.theamericanwedding.com

Asian-themed weddings are on the rise, and at first this might come as a surprise. After all, nothing could seem further from the Laura Ashley vision we get when thinking of a wedding.
And in fact, thats one of the forces behind the rising popularity of the Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside-down. In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad its the color of death and red and black are good theyre the colors of luck and prosperity.
You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian or marrying someone who is. The answer is, sometimes. Surprisingly often, they arent, and the choice is purely aesthetic.
Todays trends break down into two main types of Asian-themed weddings: the Japanese or "Zen" style, which values simplicity and nature, and the more riotous Chinese style, which bristles with bright colors and shiny fabrics.
Although either choice may surprise some older guests, the bride may find her personal values deeply expressed in the Asian-themed wedding. After all, the usual wedding is a certain kind of pageant: the couple pretends to be royalty for a day, and lavishly entertain a large party - seemingly without a care, though they rack up huge debt to do so.
Brides drawn to the Zen-style ceremony often want to avoid the "royalty pageant" and simplify the ceremony ironically, this can result in greater elegance for the price tag. This type of bride might read "voluntary simplicity" books, care about the environment, enjoy an uncluttered house or apartment with a handful of Japanese accents Shoji lanterns and screens, for example and find herself attracted to natural materials. She may feel freed by a simpler wedding gown, and carry an unfussy bouquet of calla lilies. Her centerpieces might be lanterns surrounded by black and white stones. For favors, she might give out fortune cookies placed in take-out boxes and topped off with chopsticks.
Other brides find aspects of tradition stifling, so they mix up their ceremony with Chinese-style zest. This bride might dress her bridesmaids in glowing red or slinky black! Cheongsams, dresses with high collars and slit sides. Shell hand them parasols instead of nosegays, and pass out chopsticks for their hair. Her own gown might be of gorgeous brocade in red, orange or gold. Perhaps shell wrap up the ceremony with a butterfly release and hand out lucky bamboo stalks as wedding favors. This bride doesnt mind charting her own course in social affairs, and she loves the Chinese devotion to parents and children.
In either case, the Asian-themed wedding is a great way to tie your ceremony to your personal values. Perhaps the thought of such a wedding crossed your mind, but you thought you had to be Asian The fact is, Asian traditions and trends have been shaping Americans deeply since the 1960s. Maybe its time to ask yourself this: which type of Asian-themed bride are you

About The Author
Blake Kritzberg is the proprietor of http://www.favorideas.com. Visit the site for easy, elegant, unusual, and affordable wedding favor ideas, wedding favor FAQ, and free wedding screensaver. This article may be freely reprinted so long as this resource box and URL are preserved.

Does it seem like the phrases "ecology" and "wedding" could hardly have less in common
With the average wedding costing well over 15 thousand today, one would think so. And yet, the "green" or ecologically-friendly wedding is gaining momentum across the nation.
The green wedding, like any other wedding style, has its tribal features. By tribal, I mean the signs and signifiers that help tell the guests what the wedding is supposed to mean, and how the couple prefers to appear. From a tribal perspective, a green wedding can be hauntingly romantic, with its outdoor setting, its focus on living plants, and its less-formal gown often made of hemp that brings to mind fairy outings from 400 years ago.
In personal appearance, the ecology bride is often the gamine type. Even on her wedding day, her fresh face forms a contrast with the heavily made-up cover girls of bridal magazines.
When it comes to more functional aspects, the green wedding

1. Weddings typically can cost you anywhere around $15,000 or more. The big question is: who foots the bill
The 21st century has heralded a shift in the way these costs are handled. We have moved away from the days when the family of the bride would pay all costs associated with the wedding ceremony . Today it may come down to who can afford it or, who can qualify for the personal loan from the lending institution.
Weddings may, in most cases, be a one time special event deserving of all the pomp and pageantry associated with the memorable day. However, there are ways to cut costs and still maximize the moment. Careful planning and budgeting are key to getting the most out of this experience at a reduced cost.
What should go into a wedding plan When is too much, too much
There are many things which makes a wedding a wedding. The old adage, "Something New, Something used and something blue, is a reliable guide to save.
Knowing what you need and how much it cost compared to your allotted budget for each item is essential. Your check list should include: Bride Gown and accessories, Grooms wedding attire, wedding rings, flowers, wedding cake, wedding site, reception site, photography/video services, limousine, ceremony fees, decorations, licence, honeymoon/travel, music/entertainment services, invitations, wedding consulting fees, beverage/drinks and type of wedding.
Generally, all of these items should be carefully itemized and an actual cost should be obtained from the service providers. Your budget fro each service or product should be include to help guide you and/or your wedding consultants. From this list you can determine things like the size of your guest list, bridal party and reception, cake and amount you can actually allocate to each specific area.
A good example is: if you are purchasing a wedding gown and accessories which can easily run into $1,500 or more and your budget is $600, you can opt to rent a gown and accessory which typically at the high end is around $400.
Knowing where you would like to host your wedding and the type of wedding you want is also very essential. Many people typically choose a traditional wedding religious. These can go into many different cultures i.e. African, Jewish, Islamic, Irish etc. Different types of weddings typically carry varying price tags depending on the culture and how complex the ceremony or extravagant it is.
Honeymoons can be a another costly expense. Honeymoons can extend from that drive to another state to the extended Bahamas vacation or Carribean cruise. Many companies are now incorporating wedding and honeymoon packages in their vacation packages. This has its upside and downside. Marriage laws also vary from country to country.
June typically is noted as the wedding month. So, expect costs to be higher. However travel this and hotel charges during this time of the year to many destinations including the Bahamas may be less expensive.
If you know your budget then it may be beneficial to allow a wedding consulting firm to handle the arrangements. Statistics show that couples are so tired and stressed after the wedding 705 do not have sex on the first night of the honeymoon.
Hiring wedding consultant doesnt mean you lose control of your ceremony. It just saves you the hassle and stress of coordinating and implementing each individual activity and duty.
Your honey moon can be like any other vacation as far as proper planning is concerned. In order to save money, you must know what you want to do Where you want to go What you want to see Consult with travel consultants in the country or area you plan to visit. Research well. Your trip does not have to be robotic or mechanical, but it can be cost effective and well organized.
TIPS
Below are a few cost saving tips for your special day.
Trim your guest list
Reduce the number of attendance in your bridal party and reception
Budget your honeymoon well
Choose the kind of wedding you like but can afford
Research: at least 6 months in advance
Book in advance: try the internet
Stay near home: try a friends remote cottage, town house or timeshare
Shorten your vacation stay
Travel and wed in the off season
Go on a Cruise: They are usually all inclusive
Bahamas Aficionados publishes Bahamas vacations tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If youre looking for the *best rated* Bahamas Vacation guide, the latest up to date information on the Bahamas and helpful support from an honest friend in the business come and grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.rmsbahamas.com
email us at: rmsbahamas@msn.com
To post a comment on our website, click on intranet, log in as guest use the same password and post your comments.

About The Author

Sidney Strachan is a young entrepreneur. In 1998 he and Rudolph started resource Marketing Services a B2B service oriented company. He has written many articles and is presently about to release a book of poetry entitled On and On. His website is entitled Bahamas Aficionados. It is a site promoting vacations in the Bahamas while providing services for the pleasure or business vacationers. Services include organizing and arranging Bahamian weddings, specialty tours and seminars/conferences, providing business equipment for rental and many other business and vacation oriented services.
rmsbahamas@msn.com

The proliferation of portable DVD players has dramatically changed the videography approach.
Digital era prompted people to make critical choices. Videotapes life came to an end as the DVDs and DVD players appeared and replaced them by and large. To meet the emerging needs, new services and new jobs showed up, drawing out a growing industry.
Preserving for the future
If you really want to preserve your touching family records weddings, births, anniversary moments or you really need to preserve and share your business presentations, then you should definitely transfer onto DVD formats.
Old formats have been forsaken because:

old videotapes are much more fragile
over time the degradation is imminent
videotapes lose quality in case you make copies to try to preserve or share them, and maybe worse of them,
you arentt allowed to a easy access, play, and search.

On the other side, with a DVD format you can:

watch much more conveniently on DVD players even on the road, with portables, desktops, laptops
DVD menus and chapter breaks allow you to browse through scenes and jump directly to a favorite clip. DVDs may include also other materials, such as photo slide shows and computer files. And maybe best of all advanatges of digital technology:
each copy you make is an precise duplicate of the original, so you can show and register your memories into the future.

In other words, you have the possibility to realize personal optimized records.
Well, who can do all these, at high standard

You, by our own. If you want your video transferred onto DVD with basic menus and chapters, you should ask for services like YesVideo and HomeMovie.com. All you have to do is to send them the tapes. They are to digitize and process them into DVD format, burn them to disc, and then ship back to you what you asked for. The client is offered the posibility to get back the tapes from a store that represents one of these services. Or, in case you dont have enough time or required skills,
A professional video production or DVD authoring facility to make the job.

Live Event Production Services
By recording live award shows, live concerts, music festivals outdoor, corporate events and variety shows, entertainment industry has given a whole new significance to videography industry. There are now many professional companies doing this job at very high quality levels. They have to register/shoot and edit what is happening on the stage, but also:

to integrate various moments: the show itself, short interviews before and after, what is called "behind the scenes", very appreciate by the artists themselves and the audience, too
finally, to pack all formats: live orchestras, audio and video playback, television production, sound systems and put on a DVD format to deliver
to authorize the product

Given the fact that these kind of video productions has additionally a documentary value, they are highly rated in entertainment industry. Besides,

the easiness of delivering and playing in home theater or on long trips by car
the compatibility and
the connectivity on different advanced players make live event productions very popular, too. And all these, thanks to the yielding DVDs revolution.

About The Author

Dana Scripca writes for http://www.allportabledvdplayers.com where you can find more information about portable DVD players
Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto: danascri@gmail.com