wedding dresses, wedding dress

ARA) - Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, one you have probably spent years dreaming about. When color-coordinated linens, a beautiful outdoor tent and elaborate candelabras are your vision, don’t let your budget confine your imagination.

Your dream wedding can be possible, no matter how much you have to spend, when you rent from an American Rental Association (ARA) member rental store.

Planning your wedding should be fun, not frustrating, but the number of decisions can be overwhelming, especially when trying to find the most cost-effective solutions. Use the expert guidance of a rental store professional to help you find your way through the details.

Once you have determined the location of your event, search for a local ARA member rental store. The rental experts often know exactly what the venue will provide and what you will need to rent. They can point out the unique items available for rent, things that you may not have considered, and the little things you may forget about, like salt and pepper shakers.

Your ARA member rental store is a great place to discover the latest in wedding trends. Leave it to them to learn what is new in chair and table settings and designs, barware, cake stands, tents, food stations and more. They can tell you about the newest items available to make your special day stand out from the rest.

Some unique items that are available for rent and that can help make your day exceptional include:

* Slush machines used to create delicious fruit smoothies and frozen specialty drinks.

* Outdoor heaters to keep your guests perfectly comfortable.

* Chiller tables to serve drinks or specialty food items.

* Popcorn machines to give your guests a fun carnival treat.

* Chair covers and table linens in an array of colors to help make your place settings unforgettable.

* Dance floors that will transform any space into a party.

* Stanchions (posts and fencings) to direct your guests where to go.

Many ARA member rental stores provide even more custom service through their Certified Event Rental Professionals (CERPs) who are trained to help you choose the right rentals to make your dream wedding a reality. Most offer on-site support the day of your wedding, and that’s the day you’ll be looking for all the support you can get!

The wonderful experience and memories of your wedding day will be yours to own forever. For most everything else? Well, that you can rent. To find your local ARA member rental store, visit www.RentalHQ.com, the world’s largest rental store locator. You can search by geographic location and by the specific type of equipment you are looking to rent.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Hudson broke the news while taping an performance that will air on an upcoming American Idol episode after Wednesday night’s live Top 10 performance show.  Prior to her performance, Idol host Ryan Seacrest asked the singer and Oscar-winning actress if she had set a date for her wedding yet.

“Yeah, but it’s a secret,” she told Seacrest, according to People. “I can’t tell anybody.”

Hudson went on to perform her single “If This Isn’t Love” on the Idol stage.

Otunga — a former I Love New York 2 contestant who made to the reality dating show’s Final 3 before being cut by series star Tiffany Pollard — proposed to Hudson with a Neil Lane diamond ring last September.

The couple, who have been dating for less than a year, both are natives of Chicago. Prior to Otunga, Hudson had dated childhood acquaintance James Payton for eight years and been the subject of unconfirmed engagement rumors.
 
Hudson will be beginning her first-ever solo tour next week. She she will co-headline the tour with R&B singer Robin Thicke.

London, March 29: The timing of today’s news report that Shilpa Shetty is expecting to marry her businessman boyfriend, Raj Kundra, in October could not be more unfortunate from her PR point of view, coinciding as it does with details of Jade Goody’s funeral on Saturday.

It is more than likely that Hello! (or OK!) will offer Shilpa a substantial sum — possibly £200,000-300,000 — for exclusive access to her wedding which will take place in Mumbai.

But if the magazine is to protect its property, it will demand other guests are not allowed to take photographs, a ban that will be difficult to enforce in Indian conditions.

This is something that Liz Hurley managed when she married Arun Nayar at Umaid Bhavan in Jodhpur in March, 2007, when Hello! apparently paid her between £1 million and £2 million. But for that she even had to snatch a camera off Arun’s father and throw him out of the palace.

Shilpa may also ponder the “curse of Hello!” which strikes couples who pose for happy pictures in the glossy. It was recently claimed(though not confirmed) that Liz’s marriage to Arun has hit an awkward patch. However, they have been married for two years, which is quite a long time by celebrity standards.

Jade married her boyfriend Jack Tweed but both knew it would last only days since she was in the final stage of cervical cancer. Now, the 27-year-old will be buried in her £3,500 wedding gown, in the first proper celebrity funeral since that of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

Her coffin will go on a tour of London in a Rolls-Royce hearse, followed by mourners in Bentleys. Londoners are invited to the“open funeral”.

Meanwhile, “Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has revealed to The Mail on Sunday that she is to marry boyfriend Raj Kundra this year”.

The paper said: “The pair have set a tentative date in October and plan to have a traditional ceremony in India, surrounded by family and friends. The couple, who have been together for two years, are yet to make an official announcement out of respect for Jade Goody, who appeared with Shilpa in Celebrity Big Brother.”

“I have very traditional views about marriage,” Shilpa was quoted as saying. “I’ve seen my parents maintain a 35-year marriage and I really believe marriages are made in heaven.”

She added: “I’ve always said that the day I decide to tie the knot it is going to be for good. I have often wondered who the right person would be and I’ve come to realise that for me it is Raj. I’m completely sure he is my soul mate.”

The paper pointed out helpfully that “as an Indian woman of 33, Shilpa has been under increasing pressure to find a husband”, and that she and Raj “have been openly together for more than a year and have set up home in a seven-bedroom, £5 million house in Weybridge, Surrey”.

Raj, a 34-year-old millionaire, is said to own a Dubai-based business trading precious stones and metals and has also started to help manage Shilpa’s career.

He is believed to be behind her decision last month to invest £8 million in the cricket team Rajasthan Royals, last year’s Indian Premier League winners.

Of the wedding, he said: ‘I have spoken to Shilpa’s parents and we are doing it the Indian way. In India, you don’t get engaged until just before the wedding, so I didn’t go down on one knee to her or anything like that. But we have definitely set a date for this year.”

Although the couple are happy now, the start of their relationship was surrounded by painful accusations.

When they began dating there were reports speculating that Shilpa may have played a role in Raj’s separation from his first wife Kavita and their then one-year-old daughter.
The paper which carried Kavita’s allegation that Shilpa has helped to break up her marriage was none other than the Mail on Sunday. The News of the World also carried Kavita’s claims.

Shilpa’s response in July 2007 was to issue a 1,000-word statement in which she denied being involved romantically with Raj.

She described him as being “a part of my team” and threatened to take legal action if Kavita continued to claim that the Bollywood actress was instrumental in breaking up her marriage.

“If she continues to TARNISH my name out of any insecurity or otherwise, I will consider taking legal action as I see no reason why my name is being dragged into this mess,” warned Shilpa, who put “tarnish” in capital letters.

Shilpa said she met Raj after his marriage had broken down, and that although he had become a friend, having worked hard on her perfume project, she was not a marriage wrecker.

She lamented: “If I was linked to every friend I had I would have no friends left.”
Curiously, it is Jade who seems to have more friends, quite a few of whom have rushed into print describing her as little short of a saint, conveniently forgetting she behaved like a racist bully on television.

It was reported that “invitations to the funeral will be posted out today to stars, including the Sugababes, Kerry Katona, TV veterans Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, and even Michael Jackson”.

In a story line that cannot be bettered by Hollywood or Bollywood, Jeff Brazier, the father of Jade’s two young sons, and Tweed, her husband, are said to have become friends and apparently play football together.

“Jack and the boys’ father have vowed to act ‘like two dads’ to Jade’s beloved boys. They have become closer than ever since she died, friends said.”

It was also established today that Shilpa is not keen to pursue legal action against Kavita.

ARA) - Pearls are the perfect wedding companion. Known by some as the “Queen of Gems,” the classic elegance of pearls transcends centuries and style fads. Nothing looks more beautiful with a bridal gown than a single strand of flawless pearls.

But pearls are not just for the bride — they’re the perfect accessory for bridesmaids as well. Today, you can find pearls in shades ranging from the traditional white all the way through the color spectrum, including pink, green and even black, so they will coordinate with the wedding party’s dresses.

If you’re confused by the different types of pearls on the market, you’re not alone. “Pearls are classified according to their origin and their shape,” says Natalie Parman, vice president of merchandising at Jewelry TV. “Because of the wide variety of pearls available, you can choose a look and a price that is right for you.”

Pearls are formed when a foreign object enters the shell of a mollusk and triggers the release of nacre, which builds layer upon layer until a pearl is formed. Most pearls in retail stores today are cultured pearls. They are less expensive than natural pearls because they are mass-produced with the aid of technology. Instead of waiting for nature to take its course, pearl farmers insert an irritant and a nucleus (often a mother of pearl bead) into an oyster to speed up the process. Cultured pearls come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and many are dyed, which means you can find a wide range of colors.

Akoya cultured pearls are produced by the Akoya oyster found in the waters surrounding Japan. They are almost perfectly round and are well known for their high luster and rich color, which can range from white to cream, pink, green, silver and gold. These pearls can vary in size from between 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters. “Cultured Akoya pearls are the quintessential ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ strand in a creamy white color,” says Parman. “Multiple strands or choker styles are hot wedding trends.” Because they are affordable, cultured Akoya pearls also make great bridesmaids and mothers’ gifts.

South Sea cultured pearls are larger than Akoyas, usually more than 10 millimeters. Produced in the warm waters of the South Seas, they come mainly from Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. These pearls are usually white, yellow or gold. Due to their size and rarity, South Sea pearls are expensive. Exotic golden South Sea pearls in particular have gained popularity in the United States in recent years. “If you’re choosing a special strand of pearls for your wedding, this can be a good jewelry investment,” says Parman.

Tahitian pearls are produced in Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Mexico. They range in color from black, to aubergine, pistachio and many other colors, often with overtones of blue, pink or green. These pearls range between 8 and 15 millimeters and are highly valued because of their rarity. “Wear Tahitian pearls to your rehearsal dinner, or pack them as part of your honeymoon wardrobe,” says Parman.

When choosing pearls, look for nacre thickness and quality. Nacre quality determines how long the pearl will last as well as how light reflects through the pearls. Check for any cracks or peeling in the nacre. Also, look for how the pearls on a strand are matched. Pearl matching affects the value of the piece, as mismatched pearls are not as aesthetically pleasing. Finally, look for pearls that are individually knotted between each pearl instead of just strung one after the other — that’s a sign of quality.

Whatever your jewelry wish for your wedding day, visit www.jtv.com for a great selection of pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Courtesy of ARAcontent
 

Pointers for Pampering Yourself in Just 30 Minutes a Week		Red Carpet Beauty Tips that Fit Your Budget

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

(ARA) - Planning for a wedding can be tough, especially when money is tight. But as you make your way through the mile-long checklist of things for the big day, have you thought about life after the wedding? Whether this is your first or second wedding, your dream wedding or a spontaneous ceremony, the financial implications of sharing a lifetime with another person last long after the “I do’s.”

To ensure happiness and financial security in any economy, you should be thinking about your financial future today. And, the good news is that taking the necessary steps to a sound financial future is not as complicated as you might think. Here are some things to discuss as a couple, as suggested by financial experts at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc:

1) Come up with a Budget

You may have your own budget, but now you are planning income and expenses for two. If you combine your income and expenses, you will need to combine your budgets as well.

Be prudent with your spending. Write down everything each of you spends per month and cut back on non-essentials. Take into account housing, food, utilities and transportation, as well as student loans, credit card balances, car payments, taxes and if applicable, alimony and child support. For further tips on creating a sustainable budget read “Become Your Own Financial Advisor: Tips on Planning a Budget and Sticking to It” at www.sbliusa.com.

2) Begin an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund helps ensure that you and your partner are secure should something happen, such as a job loss or serious health issue. You should agree on how much you want to save for a “rainy day.” It’s a smart idea to save between 5 and 10 percent of your salary in a joint savings account. To avoid the temptation to spend your savings, consider having the money automatically transferred from your checking accounts. Aim to save 3 to 6 months of living expenses.

3) Purchase Life Insurance

According to a study conducted by LIMRA International 48 million Americans either, don’t own life insurance and believe they should, or own life insurance and believe they need more. Purchasing life insurance will give you the peace of mind of knowing your loved ones will have money to help maintain their standard of living should anything happen to you. To access a variety of financial information and tools, as well as to learn more about life insurance and get a free quote, speak with the experts at SBLI USA.

4) Create a Plan for the Future

Take the time to create a written financial plan with clear goals. The plan should include specific and realistic steps to achieve your dreams, including buying a home, starting a family, taking vacations and retirement. Decide what additional investments you’d like to make apart from your regular savings such as maximizing your 401(k) or IRA contributions.

Using financial planning software, such as Quicken, can help with keeping track of your expenses and investments. Decide what your tax filing status will be for the year. Make sure you consider the difference between married filing separate versus joint filing, based upon your particular circumstances. Consult your tax advisor if you are unsure.

5) Pay Down Debt

Credit card debt is the number one obstacle to a secure financial future, and knowing both of your credit scores is essential. You’re allowed one free credit check annually with each of the major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Order reports and go through and correct any inaccuracies. This will help you both get a loan at a lower rate when it comes time to borrow money for a house, car or other major purchase.

Getting married is an opportunity to get a fresh start on your financial well being. These types of wealth-building efforts are extremely beneficial, and create a solid foundation to a long, happy marriage.

Courtesy of ARAcontent