Sodafone

Although love is exploited and idolized in our culture, many still fear it. They want it, but they do everything to sabotage love from ever lighting upon their doorstep. Some use their intellect as a way to guard their hearts from anything so volatile and unpredictable as love. Others use their past wounds as justification for battening down the hatches.

Just before I met my husband, I had come to the conclusion that I was going to love anyway. I could have joined the club of Bitter Women Who Have Been Dogged Like a Flea Bitten Mutt, but I realized life is too short. I’m one of those types who love to love. Not everyone was open to someone like me, but you know what? Tough. I loved ‘em, anyway. This meant opening my heart at least an inch in order to allow love to flow through.

I eventually learned to practice wisdom. I didn’t want to love the psychopath, thinking my “all-is-right-with-the-world” attitude would change him. I determined to love people in general and let the chips fall where they may. I remember feeling very vibrant during that time. It was as though I had plugged into a huge amplifier and the energy coursed through my being, demanding to be deposited somewhere and preferably not in a quiet zone. I thought of the biblical verse, “Love never fails.”

Why does love never fail? What is it about this particular emotion that sends poets rushing for a pen and ordinary people grinning like idiots, even in the midst of a downpour?

I believe it is the primary language of our soul. This is how we are to speak to one another. This is the life we were created to live.

When we love, so many good things happen that you’d think everyone would rush to join the fun. But almost the opposite is true. Many at one point in their life, rushed into love but ended up running into a wall. Maybe the wall was put in place by their parents, an old girlfriend, boyfriend, or friend-friend. Whatever happened, they decided that maybe rushing wasn’t such a good idea after all and crawled away to a nice comfy cave.

I talk about my husband frequently because I am in awe of him. He would consider himself an average guy but to me, he’s my hero. He is the one man who rushed headlong into loving me. He immersed me in his heart to a degree I had never known before. Of course he deserved my love until death do us part. It was as though he ran toward a cliff and jumped in wild abandon. He wasn’t guaranteed my devotion by doing what he did. He did it simply because he loved fully, fiercely, and fearlessly. How could I not love such a man?

Everyone has a different timetable in arriving at such a willing state. If you find yourself withdrawing into the darkest recesses of your cave, I would like to challenge you to take a walk. You don’t have to declare your undying love to the first stranger you meet.

Simply smile. A teeny, tiny opening is better than none at all. Small risks of interaction will lead to the big risk you will eventually take to find love. For loving is a risk but it is the most fabulous risk you can take. A risk we were all born to take. May you have the courage to love today.

Mary Rose Maguire, Dating Revolutionist! is a relationship coach, professional speaker, and freelance writer for single women over forty. She has conducted workshops on dating over forty, Internet dating, and communication skills for singles. Her unique Dynamic Dating Design approach has helped single women over forty create more opportunities to meet men while enjoying life. She has appeared as a guest on HealthyNet Radio Show, the “By For and About Women Radio Show”, WTVN’s “The Silver Lining” Show in Columbus, Ohio, and on Columbus FOX 28 Early Morning News Show. Mary Rose Maguire is also the author of the 5 Ways a Single Woman Over 40 Can Find Love eBook, based on her signature workshop. For speaking engagements or media interviews, please contact her at Dating Revolutionist.

Although save-the-dates are not absolutely necessary, these cards have increased in popularity with the rise of destination weddings and modern guest lists spread throughout the country. Since they are a relatively modern concept, no real rules apply - a fact which sometimes causes confusion for brides when planning their wedding stationery. I’ve sorted through the information that’s out there to bring you the real ins and outs concerning save-the-dates…

Who Needs them?
If your guest list includes a number of out-of-towners, or if your wedding takes place during a holiday or other peak time, you are a prime candidate for save-the-dates. Since invitations don’t go out until 6-8 weeks before the big day, save-the-dates are the perfect way to give wedding guests a preliminary heads up so they can begin making travel arrangements. These days, however, more and more brides send these cards regardless of the time and location of their wedding. Why? Save-the-dates provide a fun opportunity to get the word out and foreshadow the style of your big event.

Rules & Etiquette
Again, few rules apply. The only information you must include is your names and wedding date, although I suggest including location information as well so wedding guests can begin their travel plans. Aim to send save-the-date cards soon after you secure your date and venue, or about 4-6 months prior to your wedding. Remember, everyone who receives a save-the-date also receives an invitation, so have your guest list finalized prior to sending them. You can, however, always add guests later (there is no rule that says everyone must receive a save-the-date card). Although formal replies are not required, you can get preliminary attendance estimates through word-of-mouth.

Trends & Ideas
These cards will be the first impression of your wedding festivities, so take advantage of this opportunity to build excitement amongst your wedding guests. If you already know the colors and/or theme of your wedding, now’s your chance to provide a sneak peak. Or try including a favorite love poem or quote that symbolizes your relationship. Here are some of my favorite ideas and trends:

• Use vibrant colors that will “pop” as soon as guests open the envelope.

• Incorporate graphics that correspond with the season and/or location of your event. If you are planning a fall wedding, try including colorful leaves, or include seashells for a wedding on the water.

• If the timing is right, turn your save-the-date cards into holiday greetings. Incorporate your engagement photo or another photo taken shortly after the proposal.

• Who says they have to be printed stationery? Set yours apart by turning them into scrolls, pens, stickers, magnets or a creative calendar-marker. You are only limited by your imagination!

Wording Samples
The content of your save-the-dates should be short, sweet, and to the point - providing a basic who, what, where and when. There is no standard wording; they may be as formal or as whimsical as you’d like. In any case, make sure to include “Formal invitation to follow” somewhere on the card.

Here is the basic layout for the save-the-date cards:

Save the Date: [bride & groom’s name] are getting married on [wedding date] in [city, state]

Here are some wording samples you might want to consider:

• Traditional:

Please save the date:

May 4, 2006 for the wedding of

Bob & Judy in Charleston, South Carolina

• Fun & Cutesy:

We’re Tying The Knot!

John popped the question, and Katie said yes.

Please join us on October 2, 2006

Orange County, California

• For a destination wedding:

Please join us in paradise on June 17, 2006

when Lisa & Jay say “I Do”

in Maui, Hawaii

For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.

Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding services, along with planning tips, photo galleries and checklists to keep brides in-the-know on today’s wedding trends and styles.

It is wrong if you thought that typical British weddings are starving of novel ideas. In fact, there is a glut of ideas, and each idea sounds as enthralling as the previous ones. The only glitch then is of finance. Had weddings been the be-all and end-all of life, not an iota of concern would have been put on the expenses. It isn’t though. Wedding marks the onset of a new life for the married couple. Rash expenses at this stage of life are only going to make things worse in the future.

However, it is difficult to stop oneself from spending on a momentous occasion as wedding. Perceiving the difficulty that borrowers face in arranging finance for weddings, loan providers in the UK have now come up with wedding loans. A wedding loan is a specialised loan service that aims to cater to the borrowers who need finance for organising weddings or meeting payments of a wedding already held.

Wouldn’t it be easier had the entire cost of wedding been broken into a number of parts and repayable in small instalments? A wedding loan intends to do this with the expenses incurred during weddings, and thus ease the burden on the borrower.

The following section lists down a few “must dos” for couples who intend to use wedding loans to say, “I do”.

* Failing to plan is planning to fail

You would not want your wedding to go awry because of a shortage of funds. Planning ensures that there is enough to expend on weddings. Adequate consideration must be given to planning the budget of the wedding. The planning process may be fun, but the results obviously are unprecedented. The various concerned people sit together and decide the various costs that are incurred. In addition, a priority table is prepared so that a less important expenditure can be postponed or omitted altogether. With the changing times, the couple themselves finance the wedding. Nevertheless, it will be prudent to consult the elderly for a proper understanding of the expenses that are commonly incurred on such occasions. A proper planning for wedding budget must have in built flexibilities to provide for contingencies as and when they crop up.

*In search of wedding loans

Once the various persons concerned approve the budget for the wedding and decide that a wedding loan will suffice their purpose, the pursuit for wedding loan begins. Internet serves an important tool in conducting the search. Search engines like Google, MSN, and Yahoo provide links to thousands of loan providers who are offering wedding loans in the UK. Borrowers can easily adjudge loan providers with the information given about them on their website, compare wedding loan deals through a loan calculator, and request wedding loan quotes from lenders who appear lucrative.

*Working the details of the wedding loan

After screening lenders through a number of stages, you single out a lender for offering UK wedding loans. Lenders often work as a network, thus increasing the purview of wedding loan deals. Since the requirements of borrowers differ, customised rather than standardised wedding loan deals are offered. The case of each borrower is studied minutely at this stage to find out the amount that can be lent as wedding loans. Interest options and repayment options are explained to the borrower and he is allowed to make his decisions. Borrowers must not take decisions without knowing in full about its present and future repercussions. As needs be, borrowers can consult the experts or independent financial advisors for a more detailed explanation of the term or any feature of wedding loans.

For a plush wedding in the UK, a large wedding loan will required to be drawn. Qualifying for a large amount of Wedding loans requires a collateral in the form of home or any other asset to serve as the backing for the loan. This is known as gaining on the equity in home. Nevertheless, people can get approved for large wedding loans without collateral, if they are able to instil sufficient faith in the loan provider regarding their credibility. Borrowers with a good credit history do not face difficulties in getting unsecured wedding loans because of the faith that they generate in the loan providers. A person with a bad credit history does not fail entirely in getting a wedding loan. Many loan providers accept to offer them financial assistance during weddings at higher interest rates.

Thus, many people who would have accepted a bland wedding as their fate and the result of the scarcity of resources can now heave a sigh of relief. Through a wedding loan in the UK, they can now have lush weddings minus the fear of destabilising financial health through overspending.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at easyfinance4u with an acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles.His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of wriiting and thoroughly researched datas. To find Secured loans, secured personal loans, secured debt consolidation loans in UK that best suit your needs visit http://www.easyfinance4u.com

Dealing with catering service providers is part of most brides wedding planning strategy. A caterer normally provides food and beverages and they have an important role in your wedding. If you have experience with caterers, you are in luck. But if you have never hired a caterer before, don’t worry.

If the wedding reception venue offers this service, it is also possible that you don’t need to worry about hiring a third party caterer. Even if catering is not provided by the reception venue, they may be able to recommend some to you. If your reception site manager, recommends a caterer you should still do your homework. Just like any other vendor, a caterer should be able to provide you with several references. You should always contact the references.

You should ask about reliability, trustworthiness, quality, and related issues. Never assume that a caterer recommended by someone if surely the best possible solution for your event. One caterer may work great for one event, but be insufficient for others. A caterer may be experienced in smaller events, but not experienced with events with two hundred invited guests.

There are two different styles of catering:

Seated Dinner - Seated dinner setting will normally require more staff than a buffet. Serving the food requires more severs. With a seated dinner, you will need more tables and chairs because most of the guests will eat at the same time. A seated dinner offers less flexibility for your guests, because they usually have a couple of options to choose from. To simplify the process, menu options should be included with the wedding invitations so your guests can choose which selection they prefer. The pre-selection process enables you to work with your caterer on the final count.

Buffet - You may be able to get away with less chairs and tables with a buffet dinner. Buffet gives your guests more flexibility, and they don’t all have to eat at the same time. A buffet dinner also gives your guests more options to customize their food selection. The buffet requires fewer servers and less staff. Guests can pick and choose what they like. In addition to the obvious advantage of a more flexible dinner, your guest can go back for seconds. Because buffet dinners require minimal service staff, you may be able to save more with this option.

Wedding Favors Wedding favors, personalized wedding favors and bridal shower gifts.