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Marriage & Wedding Information |
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Alternatives to Diamond Rings ? What Choices Do You Have?
There is little doubt that planning a wedding can be one of the most expensive times in your life, and the various costs can seem particularly draining as you struggle to find the funds to allow you set up home and begin your new life together. So for many couples, jewelry is not a priority at this time, but as even frugal lovers want to celebrate their love by purchasing an engagement ring, many couples are wondering whether there are any good alternatives to diamond rings available. Thankfully, the answer is yes, and you won't have to compromise on quality to find a beautiful alternative to a diamond ring. There is no law that says that an engagement ring must include a diamond, this is simply a tradition, and throughout the ages traditions have been constantly enhanced or modified to render familiar things more personal. These days, many brides-to-be are selecting other stones as alternatives to diamond rings, choosing perhaps their birthstone, or a gem that is available in a color they love. There are many alternatives to diamond rings available, and many of these at prices a fraction of the cost of a diamond. But to many women, an engagement ring is not the same without that many faceted, brilliant white stone nestled at its centre. But for those who want the fire of diamonds without the price tag, there are real alternatives to diamond rings, the latest and most impressive of which is moissanite. This gem can be grown artificially, which reduces the cost to the consumer, while retaining ? and some experts would even argue that it improves upon ? the brilliance of the diamond. But if you are proposing to your sweetheart, be sure to let her know the gem that you have chosen for her. While moissanite is undoubtedly a beautiful stone, the ring your offer your bride-to-be is symbolic of your future together, and honestly is an enormously important part of this. So let her know that you have chosen for her an alternative to a diamond ring, so that she can appreciate her moissanite stone it all its beauty. Alternatives to diamond rings can be found, at a much reduced cost and looking just as good. For a website totally devoted to Moissanite rings visit Peter's Website The Magic of Moissanite, and find out about Moissanite Rings as well as Loose Moissanite Stones and more, including Mens Moissanite Rings, Moissanite Earrings, Moissanite Bridal Rings and Moissanite Engagement Rings
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RELATED ARTICLES
Whats in a Greek Wedding? The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an ancient and beautiful ceremony, which has been celebrated in its current form for centuries. The wedding ceremony is full of symbolism and is a great experience if you have never attended one before, because it is likely to be quite different from other weddings you have attended in Western Europe. The service is also rather unique because the bride and groom do not make vows to each other ? their presence together in the church is taken to mean that they are serious about getting married. There are no wedding rehearsals and the ceremony usually has a very relaxed atmosphere - guests take photos whenever they want to and often chat quietly among themselves throughout the ceremony. The Beginning of the Wedding In most cases the wedding guests will wait with the groom outside the church until the bride arrives (a few sneaky wedding pros will go into the church early to secure a good seat). In the Summer, when most weddings take place, it is not unusual for ceremonies to be arranged back to back, so the guests attending a marriage will often stand around with those who have just attended the previous wedding are ready to leave. Wedding dress commentators among the crowd will get to consider and discuss at least two brides and maybe even a third as they leave the church ? bargain! Meanwhile, the groom waits for the bride at the entrance to the church, often holding her floral bouquet. He hands it to her as they meet and they then go inside together followed by the guests. There is no separation of the guests into guests of the bride and guests of the groom ? everyone sits together and in the case of small churches, many people prefer to stand in a spot where they can get a good view of the proceedings. Service of Betrothal The wedding ceremony itself is in two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage. The exchanging of rings is the focus of the Service of Betrothal. The priest blesses the rings by holding them in his right hand and making the sign of the cross over the heads of the bride and groom. The rings are then placed on the third fingers of their right hands. The Koumbaro, the couple's religious sponsor, then swaps the rings over between the bride and groom's fingers, three times. A number of rituals in the ceremony are repeated three times and this symbolises the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ceremony of the Sacrament of Marriage This Ceremony consists of several key parts. First, several prayers are said and then as they come to an end, the priest joins the right hands of the bride and groom. Their hands remain joined until the end of the wedding ceremony, which symbolises the couple's union. The Crowning The bride and groom are crowned with thin crowns, or stefana, which are joined by a white ribbon and have been blessed by the priest. The crowns symbolise the glory and honour that is being bestowed on them by God, and the the ribbon symbolises their unity. The koumbaro then exchanges the crowns between the heads of the couple, three times. The Common Cup The crowning is followed by a reading of the Gospel, which tells of the marriage of Cana at Galilee. It was at this wedding that Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine, which was then given to the married couple. Wine is given to the couple and they each drink from it three times. The Ceremonial Walk The priest the leads the couple, who are still wearing their stefana, three times around the altar on their first steps as a married couple. The Koumbaro follows close behind the couple holding the stefana place. At this point the couple (and anyone standing nearby) is usually showered with rice, which was earlier handed out to the wedding guests. The priest will often make use of the bible he is holding to give himself some protection! The Removal of the Crowns When the Ceremonial Walk has ended, the priest blesses the couple, the crowns are removed and he then separates their previously joined hands with the bible, reminding them that only God can break the union which they have just entered into. Wedding traditions Unfortunately, a lot of the information available on Greek Orthodox wedding traditions is a little outdated and contains generalisations that give the impression that certain traditions are followed by everyone who gets married. Some of these traditions are set out below. And the Bride Didnt Wear White While through history brides have agonized over what to wear on their wedding day, usually looking good was never too far away from their thoughts. Except during the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Organized Brides: Why They are Going Online Brides looking to stay on top of their wedding plans are flocking to the internet in search of helpful wedding resources, planning tips and ideas. 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With the average cost of a wedding around £17,000 you would think that more couples would take out wedding insurance just in case something happens to spoil the special day. However, an estimated 85% of couples planning to get married do not bother with insurance. Many people are so wrapped up in the romance and anticipation of their dream wedding that the practicalities of what could potentially go wrong do not even cross their minds. But, compared to the high cost of marriage, taking out a premium for about £50 seems a small price to pay for piece of mind. Balance - Wedding Budget Blues Let's think about what goes into your wedding budget. Your caterer/banquet facility will get the lion's share of it. If you are having 150 guests (an average number) and the banquet facility charges $100 pp. (typical high-end facility in New England area - including gratuity, tax, hidden fees) - that works out to $15,000 right off the top. If you have it and want to spend it - great. If you are trying to stretch your wedding dollars, then you really need to step back. Many couples get so caught up in the facility that they spend all their budget on it and don't have enough left over for quality entertainment or wedding photos. Essential Advice for Your Wedding Day You've been engaged for months, you've made it through planning the ceremony, the attire, the reception, the honeymoon, and you haven't killed each other yet. The worst is over. When you wake up on the morning of your wedding day, your only job is to go along for the ride, enjoy every moment and make some memories. Read on for essential advice for your wedding day. Three Ingenious Anniversary Gift Ideas If you have met the person or the couple several times you must be familiar with how they express themselves. Therefore, one of the best anniversary gift ideas would be to portray that pose through a life-size pencil sketch and frame it in bamboo or white plywood 2005 Mother Of Bride Dress A 2005 mother of bride dress tends to have a different look and feel to it than did mother of the bride dresses in the past. That's because today's mother of the bride tends to be a different sort of woman, having come of age in a different culture than the typical mother of the bride from eras gone by. Today's mother of the bride dress is as far from matronly as is the mother of the bride herself. Free Wedding Planning Guide and Checklist With so much to do, every bride needs a surefire way to get organized and stay on track as she countsdown toward that all-important day. Here's a guide and checklist you won't want to be without. Choosing your Wedding Favors How do you give thanks and make a lasting impression on your guest? The answer is simple, with a wedding favor. A wedding favor is a small token of appreciation for your guest to treasure and remember your special wedding day. Choosing the right wedding favor should represent both the bride and groom's personal style or personality, culture and your wedding theme. Many wedding books and planners suggest ordering your favors at least two months prior to your wedding day. Indian Astrology and Marriages Astrology is considered to be the oldest of all sciences, which studies the effects of the planetary positions and movements on our lives. Indian Astrology is an integral aspect of the Vedic literature (Vedic Astrology) and was practiced over the years by Indian sages and passed on to their disciples. In olden days, the kings would depend on astrology to determine the right and auspicious time before embarking on any new and important initiatives. Ages later, today, we still find the strong influence of astrology in our day-to-day life. 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This is the reason why your wedding reception at the Arizona Inn will be an event that will never be forgotten. Ditching a Wedding John's cousin, Grace, is getting married in Liverpool, UK and he lives in Glasgow, UK. He does not really want to attend the wedding, weddings and such are just not his idea of a fun Saturday. He has already spent time and attended all the functions and parties over the last month that family and friends have had to congratulate her and he wants this weekend for himself. The History of the White Wedding Dress As a youngster -- or perhaps even as an adult -- have you ever sat dreamily imagining yourself in a fairytale wedding dress, about to marry your very own Prince Charming? And, what colour is the wedding dress? The chances are it's a white one. Millions of girls and women that dream of the perfect marriage have a vision of the perfect white wedding dress in their minds. But why white? Where did this tradition come from? Marriage Advice: What to Throw Overboard When Your Marriage Is In Trouble When your marriage is in trouble and you're fighting to keep it afloat, it's time to throw anything that isn't helping you overboard. You need all your wits about you to be able to handle the crisis and tackle the problems. Anything that's an impediment or hindrance has to go. Understanding Celtic Wedding Rings Thousands of years ago, the Celts, a group of independent tribes spread throughout much of current day Europe, were sophisticated artisans, carving knot work patterns that have inspired modern day jewelers to create wedding rings. These motifs have meaning. Yet understanding the knot patterns and why they make such ideal wedding rings can be illusive. The ancient motifs are rooted in mysterious cultures that stretch back well before written history. Fifteen Fabulous Favors The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating (or choosing) wedding favors. Take a look at the list below for fifteen fabulous ideas. Trust in Marriage Trust is the basis of all human relationships. Trust can be thought of as a thermometer that can measure the positive and negative nature of a relationship. The more positive one feels about a person, the higher the trust level associated with him/her. ![]() |
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