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Have ever been in a relationship where your partner consistently complains about you and/or about the things that you do? Or, did they maybe just make subtle comments but you knew they really meant it? These careless acts play on your insecurities and you may have found that you were changing the things about yourself that they were complaining about or commenting on in an effort to avoid the criticism and/or comments. They might have also threatened to end your relationship if you didn’t change.

You may have convinced yourself because you love the person it is a valid and good enough reason to want to change for them. The bottom line is that it is fear on some level that causes you to change for someone else and not love. Changes, no matter how big or small, are not appropriate if they are for someone else. Any time you change anything about yourself to please another, it will have negative consequences. The moment you change one thing, you may be asked to change another and another and another until there comes a point when nothing you do or say is good enough. You will find that a relationship where you are required to change in an effort to make it work will not survive long term.

Whatever you do from here on out, don’t change for anyone else but yourself! If you do, it will backfire at some point because you are, essentially, squashing the spirit of your true self. Eventually, those aspects of yourself that you thought you had changed will be doing whatever it takes to express themselves. The essence of your true nature cannot and will not be held down for long.

More than likely, these changes that you initially made from ‘love’ will manifest as anger and resentment towards your partner for whom you did the changing for in the first place. If they don’t like who you are, that is not your problem, it is theirs. Remind yourself that you choose who you want to be with and vice versa. And gently remind them that if those things bother them so much, maybe you both should consider the possibility that the relationship won’t work out because you respect yourself. And that means that you won’t change to fit someone else’s idea of what the perfect partner should be like. You are who you are and if they don’t like it, they don’t have to be with you. If they don’t love and accept you just as you are, don’t be afraid to tell ‘em to take a hike.

Above all else, be true to yourself body, mind and soul. You will find that honoring and respecting yourself in that way will more quickly result in attracting and experiencing a healthy, loving and fulfilling relationship like you never even dreamed possible.

Warmest Regards,
Lisa Stuart

Copyright © 2006 The Love Attraction Expert

Lisa Stuart is dedicated to showing you how to attract the love of your life. Discover the secrets to attracting and experiencing a relationship with the love of your life! Sign up for Lisa’s Attracting Love Newsletter ($100 Value) just by visiting her website at http://www.HowToAttractLove.com.

Giving Irish wedding gifts, as with so many wedding customs in Ireland, is steeped in magical folklore and old-fashioned Irish superstition.

Deciding what gift to give your friends on their big day will be easier once you learn about a few of Ireland’s traditional wedding gifts and what they signify.

The Bell
Whether the bell be made of pewter, brass, porcelain, or crystal, it will ward off the evil spirits that may be lurking to trip up the newlyweds.

Also known as a “make-up bell” or “wedding bell”, it helps the Bride and Groom stay ever-mindful of their wedding vows and the love they shared on their wedding day. So whenever they are upset with each other one of them can ring the bell instead of walking away.

The Magic Hanky
There is a wonderful Irish wedding custom for the bride to carry a “magic” hanky on her wedding day.

After the nuptials, she keeps it in a special place saves it for her firstborn’s christening, to dry her baby’s face. A variation of this Irish wedding tradition is for the hanky to be converted into a christening bonnet, then converted back into a hanky for that child’s wedding day.

The Wedding Coin
Another old Irish wedding tradition is for the Groom to give his Bride a coin after they exchange rings, as a symbol of prosperity. This custom originated back when the Groom would pay money to the Bride’s family to bring them good fortune and joy.

A modern interpretation of this custom is for the Bride and Groom to exchange coins. They say if the coins touch each other during the exchange, the Bride and Groom will be blessed with many children.

The Lucky Horseshoe
The horseshoe has always been associated with good luck in Irish folklore. Brides traditionally carry a horseshoe with them on their wedding day for good luck.

After they set up their home together, the horseshoe is hung over their front door to continue to ward off evil and despair. Just remember, if you give the couple a horseshoe, give it to them with the “U” facing up – this way it stops the luck from draining out!

Other good luck charms that make great Irish wedding gifts include:

• Salt and Pepper Shakers
  So their home will never be without food.
• Wine Glasses
  So they will always have plenty to drink.
• Candlestick Holders
  So their home will always have light.

Giving gifts is an important part of the culture of hospitality in Ireland. So if you have been invited to an Irish wedding, it’s important to choose your wedding gifts wisely. Hopefully some of these traditional Irish wedding gifts have given you some ideas.

Deborah Felker is the editor of Fantasy-Ireland.com, featuring in-depth articles about the meaning of Irish and Celtic symbols and many articles to help plan Irish and Celtic weddings.

Their big day has nearly arrived and you still haven’t bought the couple a wedding gift yet. Well, not to worry, here are 10 wedding gift suggestions that are a little more creative than suggesting you rush off to buy them a gift voucher for the home, garden and furniture store.

1. How about a painting. Obviously selection is according to budget. Consider romantic depictions or something special to that couple, such as a painting of where they first met. You could personalise it even further by commissioning a local artist to paint a photo of the couple.

2. Buy them a tree. A small one. Don’t laugh – think about it this way. Buy a nice tree they can plant, then nurture and grow as the years go by, just like their marriage. When they look out the window in several years time they’ll be reminded of how far they’ve come as they see an established tree in the garden.

3. Subscription to a magazine. Maybe the newly wedded couple have just moved into a new house and needs some work doing to it. What better gift than a magazine all about how to decorate and renovate a house.

4. Are the couple into keep-fit? If so, how about buying them joint membership to a local gym for a year. It’s something they can do together.

5. Something that lasts. Perhaps a bottle of vintage wine or a framed wedding invitation. The latter being more personal and memorable.

6. Do they have a digital camera? If not, then this is ideal. They’ll be wanting to take a lot of photos after they get married and during the honeymoon.

7. Once they have taken all these pictures, they will want hard copies of them. It’s a practical gift, but how about a colour photo printer or a docking station for the camera that allows them to print off the photos.

8. A luxury hotel room before they go on their honeymoon is another appropriate wedding gift. Just make sure they haven’t already made reservations prior to you arranging this.

9. Now it’s time for a couple of things not to buy the wedding couple. Don’t buy them a kettle. Chances are they will have several bought for them already. I don’t know how much tea you drink, but I sure don’t need five kettles. Marriage may be thirsty work, but not that thirsty.

10. Arrghhh, no, not a toaster. Don’t do it. I’m sure we all dream of toast after we get married, but about a dozen people will also want the newly wedded couple to enjoy perfect slices of toast in the morning. I’m sure this is a tradition, but avoid the dreaded ‘wedding toaster’ gift at all costs.

Article by James Fenton of Destination Wedding Dedicated to ‘everything-wedding’ and jam-packed with wedding information!

Have you noticed how men, as in male, have a tendency to make a mouthful of what seems to the unhampered mind so simple?

Take marriage for example. There was a time, around the 1200’s or thereabouts, that couples could get married simple by stating the fact that they wished to become husband and wife.

Then men, who have such a thing about debating, especially the finer points of a word, decided that they needed a definition of what a marriage is, how one can recognize one when one sees it, and how to ensure that it is what it says it is.

Being men, they worried the problem for centuries, happy with one definition for a while, only to decide the definition needed to be amended to make it even less clear, but certainly more complex.

At one stage marriage needed four conditions to make it acceptable. The partners had to be of equal and free rank and must give their consent. This was in the day that property was involved and you didn’t want your daughter to squander her goods on a nobody.

Secondly the bride had to be given by her father. A fathers, of course, was next to God in those days and his consent to a marriage was as necessary as hers. The groom also with some say in the matter, not wanting to end up with a poor bride, insisted on a dowry to go with his bride’s charms.

Thirdly, the marriage was not to be entered into secretly. It had to be made public.

And fourthly, the union was only deemed completed when sexual consummation took place.

Interestingly enough, the first three requirements go right back to the early Romans who were ever the law givers. The fourth requirement comes from the practical people of Germany.

Over the centuries the Church, the Government, and the people themselves, would argue about what was really important in the union of a man and a woman. And over the years requirments have changed.

In most countries parental consent is no longer an issue, as neither is the dowry.

Couples are also given the right to marry as low or as high as they want to or are able to. And how public or secret they make their wedding ceremony, is wholly up to them.

I don’t think consummation has ever been much of a problem, but if it is, it only becomes an issue if one of the partners make a formal complaint. Otherwise, no one needs to know.

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorised to perform marriages in Australia. She also perform general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about her as a celebrant and an author visit vlady at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com

It’s your big day. You’re getting married. Time to plan big. Time to plan lavishly. Time to start your wonderful life together in debt.

Let’s face it, the bride’s family is not always willing (or able) to foot the bill for a big wedding. More and more the bride and groom are paying for their own weddings, and want to do it responsibly. The good news is inexpensive weddings don’t mean you have to give up on style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination. For example, I knew one couple who rented an inexpensive roller rink for the night and got married on skates to a cheesy organ playing “Here Comes the Bride.” After the vows they and their guests had a great time skating around the rink.

Too expensive for you? Perhaps you could hold your wedding outdoors at a friend’s or family member’s backyard. If there is a pool available, you could turn it into a fun wedding pool party.

Wedding theme parties can also be a creative, fun and inexpensive (we don’t use the word “cheap”) way to get married. You could go to an inexpensive craft stores to create any kind of theme wedding you want: Western, Hawaiian, Cosmopolitan, Elvis, Star Trek, “Survivor” (yes, that’s right, a “Survivor” theme wedding.)

What other ways can you save money on your wedding?

- Buy your dress secondhand.

- Ask your friends and family to make your food and cake for you in lieu of a wedding gift.

- Why use a DJ when you have an iPod or MP3 player?

- Stay away from “expensive foods” like shrimp, salmon, lobster and beef tenderloin.

- Hold the wedding and reception at lunch time and serve lunch instead of dinner.

- Buy flowers from a local wholesale flower mart or nursery.

- Have a barbecue.

- Have a buffet-style meal instead of a more formal dinner.

- Skip the alcohol. Okay, just kidding (unless, of course you don’t drink). But, if having some wine or champagne available to your guests is important, there are still some pretty good bottles available that won’t break the bank. If you live in California, inexpensive wines are easy to find. But, if you live elsewhere, there are always labels like Columbia Crest, BV Coastal and Mirassou that are great tasting and inexpensive. Chandon, a label from California, has good, inexpensive sparkling wine for around $13.99 (from dealtime.com). You can always have a more expensive bottle of champagne reserved for the bride and groom.

It’s all about priorities. Decide which elements of your wedding are most important to you and which you want to reserve for a major part of your budget and which elements aren’t all that important to you. Perhaps saving money for a house is your priority and a wedding just isn’t all that important. In that case, elope and have a modest party later. You two are creating the lives you want. Do what makes you happiest.

Few things are as critical to a successful wedding ceremony and reception as the flowers you choose.

The right winter wedding bouquets can highlight and compliment any type of wedding, from the most casual to the most elegant. The key is to match the wedding flowers to your taste, that of your fiancé, and that of your family members.

==Choosing A Florist Who Has A Lot Of Experience==

There are many different kinds of winter wedding bouquets on the market, and it is of course important to choose a florist who has a lot of experience in creating floral designs and bouquets for weddings.

Chances are you will be buying your winter wedding bouquets from the same florist who does your other wedding flowers, so it is important to shop around for the best value.

==View Bouquets Of The Florist’s Past Work==

It is also always a good idea to look at other winter wedding bouquets the florist has created.

It is generally better and more desirable to look at the actual bouquets themselves, but if no such bouquets are available, you may be able to get an idea of the quality through photographs of past wedding ceremonies.

==Get References From All Florist You Are Considering Using==

It is also important to get references from any wedding florist you are considering and to be sure to follow up with those references. Be sure to ask those you contact what they liked, and what they did not like, about their wedding flowers.

This kind of first hand experience is one of the most valuable tools to use when shopping for the perfect flowers for your wedding.

==Make Sure that The Flowers Compliment The Colors Used In Your Wedding==

It is also important to make sure that the flowers you choose for your wedding and your bouquets compliment the colors which will be used in your wedding.

Choosing flowers in complimentary colors will help to provide a consistent look and feel to your wedding and it will make the church and reception hall all the more attractive for the big day.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding planning topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/winter_wedding_bouquets.html

Your wedding cake design should demonstrate your personal taste and style and of course fit the décor of your reception.

Follow me and I will help you with every step in choosing the right cake. You will develop a feeling of joy and relief, as you should, while preparing for your wedding. I promise you that.

Choose your wedding cake only after you have decided on your gown, the bridesmaid dresses, the reception site, the theme, colors and anything else that could have an effect on which cake you choose.

You could select a photo of a cake you love first and then try to match everything else to that. However, that approach will likely be much harder. After all once you cut and serve the cake everything else you have chosen to match it will still be there but the cake is just a memory.

Couples only fool themselves if they think guests only care about the cake’s taste and the decorating and design of a wedding cake. Other than the bride’s beautiful dress and glowing face nothing says wedding like a wonderfully decorated and designed wedding cake.

Unique wedding cake inspiration may come from looking at pictures of wedding cake designs. You may find a photo that will help you design the wedding cake of your dreams to enhance your reception.

There are several approaches one can take in choosing wedding cake designs, from traditional cream or white icing in classical designs to totally modern artistic colorful masterpieces. Nowadays anything goes.

The wedding cakes we see today are very different than in the past. Designs have evolved to suit the taste of today’s couples. More and more couples are choosing cupcake towers for the wedding. This is one of the newest and original wedding cake ideas ever.

Another wedding cake style that is gaining in popularity is the miniature cake. Traditional round wedding cakes may soon fade out since all sorts of other shapes are becoming very popular. Square, oval, heart, octagon and other shapes are gaining in popularity. However some couples still prefer traditional round cakes and flavors like cheesecake for the wedding cakes.

Whatever shape or flavor you choose, your wedding cake, to your friends and family will always symbolize love, the sweetness of life, prosperity and fertility.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding your wedding cake design. How much can you spend on the cake? Will the cake be the only dessert? How big of a cake will you need? Not every guest will want cake if you offer other desserts or a meal.

Will a particular cake fit your reception decorating scheme and menu? Today’s cake designers offer an almost endless variety of cake styles, decorating, choice of construction, flavors, icing and decorations.

How many tiers do you want, in what colors? Do you want a custom made, one of a kind cake topper? Do you as a couple have a shared passion, job or hobby? Make your cake topper reflect that interest. You can get anything from animal to motorcycle cake toppers.

Or do you just want a porcelain or crystal bride and groom cake topper?

There are very nice online stores that sell a wide variety of elegant and whimsical wedding cake toppers.

Are you planning to serve the cake as dessert or do you want to put slices in little boxes for the guests to take home?

Try to make preliminary decisions on these and other issues before you consider visiting any bakery or cake designer. However stay open to suggestions from these experts. You can get your wedding cake from your caterer, reception site or bakery. Try to order your cake from someone who specializes in wedding cakes or who does one or more weddings a week.

Ask for references and check them out. Ask past clients if they were satisfied with the cake and if they have any hints for dealing with this particular baker or bakery.

Some newlyweds want to save the top layer of their wedding cake for their first anniversary or the birth of their first child. Check with your baker to see if he can freeze and store the top layer of your wedding cake for a year.

Nina Romanov

Cake Decorator

Find more wedding cake tips, recipes and supplies at CakeChannel.com

Hundreds of Wedding Cake Pictures:

http://www.cakechannel.com/wedding-cake-pictures.html

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to get creative and think about gifts! With so much on the market it’s always hard to find something that isn’t tacky yet still affordable. Why go for the teddy bears and chocolates when you could get something that both of you can enjoy? Wish Lanterns make the ideal Valentine’s Day gift for people of all ages. You can launch them up together into the skies as they carry your wishes and worries away up into the sky above. You can even write messages on the lanterns for your Valentine, which so much more romantic than a bunch of flowers or a card. Wish Lanterns stay up in the air alight for up to twelve minutes, then after self extinguishing once in the air, they will float back down to the ground where they will decompose Wish Lanterns are made of rice paper and bamboo so they are 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Wish Lanterns are also known as Sky Lanterns, Flying Lanterns or Chinese Lanterns and are frequently used in Asian Festivals such as the Loi Kratong festival in Thailand. There are some videos and images of the Wish Lanterns on http://www.wishlantern.co.uk/film_gallery.html if you’d like to have a look at how spectacular they are. You can also order them from http://www.wishlantern.co.uk/purchase.html if you’d like to surprise your Valentine with a truly unique gift.

Regardless of the type of wedding reception you wish to have, taking the time to plan and work out all the details of what needs to be done is very important. This advice applies whether you are planning a small intimate gathering of a few close friends and family after the ceremony or if you want a lavish reception.

Couples are often surprised at the amount of time and effort involved in personalizing and organizing a perfect reception, which needs to be done several months in advance. The following tips are intended to guide you through some of the wedding reception details that you will need to address.

Begin By Pre-Planning and Organizing

Before you start any wedding reception planning make sure you know your exact budget. There is no point in organizing a lavish reception for 200 people if your budget only allows for a small toned-down gathering of 50 people. Your budget will not only include the cost of the reception venue, but also the food, favors, decorations, music, cake, table linens and tableware, any additional entertainment, etc. The reception will take the largest chunk of your budget.

I also strongly recommend that you purchase a good wedding planner book to walk you step-by-step through the wedding planning process. These books provide some great information on details that you might miss or not even think of. Plus, they provide you with a place to record and store all wedding information for quick retrieval.

One of the cheapest (since it’s free) ways to find out more about what’s involved in planning a wedding reception is to start by talking to friends and family about their wedding experiences. Write down any advice and tips they might give, as well as references to caterers, DJ’s, etc. Word of mouth is often the best way to locate exactly what you’re looking for.

Choosing a Location

Deciding on where to hold your wedding reception can often times make a key difference in how well it goes… and how fondly it’s remembered by you and your guests. Take your time with this. Get recommendations and check out all venues thoroughly.

Be aware that the number of available locations will be much more limited for weekends and certain times of the year… often popular spots are booked a year in advance. You may wish to consider having your wedding during an “off-wedding” month, such as January or during the week, rather than on a weekend. Cost wise, it will be much cheaper as well.

While at each reception location there are several details that you should pay attention to. Available nearby parking, adequate bathroom facilities, cleanliness of the location, and ample room for dinner and dancing… these are just some of the things you will need to look at.

Familiarize yourself with the location to learn what can and can not be done, especially in terms of decorating.

Keep a list of all locations and facilities that you visit and try to get a floor plan of the building. This will certainly help you out when you are deciding on the arrangement of tables, DJ or band stand, where to place the cake table, etc. Make sure you also get all prices quoted and contact details in writing.

The Nitty-Gritty Reception Details

There are many details that you need to attend to such as your seating arrangements, coordinating table linens to match your theme, finding a baker to make your wedding cake, whether to use a decorator or not, and who to use for entertainment.

Make a list of everything that needs to be taken care of then start delegating some of the tasks to your attendants and family members. Keep in mind that some flexibility is essential in the planning process too.

Decorating is an important part of your overall wedding plans. Make a list of the various types of decorations you’ll need such as table centerpieces, balloon bouquets, and specific theme items.

One of the other most significant aspects of planning your wedding reception is the meal that will be served. You will need to decide if it will be a full-course sit-down dinner or a buffet. If you’re planning a low-key, intimate reception with family and close friends, plan on food and drink that is less formal and more fun.

Once you think you have everything planned out on paper, take the time to walk through the event from start to finish. For example, what will everyone be doing when they first arrive at the reception? When will guests be seated for dinner? What will happen during the meal? When will you cut the cake? When does the dancing begin? By going through each aspect of what will happen at the reception, you will be assured that you’ve taken care of all the details.

A Few Other Reception Tips

Keep your guests updated in regards to any changes to wedding details throughout the planning process. A good way to do this is to register with a personal wedding website. New details can be added and quickly updated, which family members and guests can then quickly access online.

Delegate, delegate, delegate! Try to get other people to help out as much as possible. This will take a large load of errands off your back and all you need to do is supervise the process. Having fun and being relaxed is what you’re aiming for.

Hopefully, the above guidance and advice will give you some direction and inspiration as you plan your own special and personalized wedding reception.

About the Author:

(c)2006. Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed to help you plan your perfect theme wedding. Read more about how to personalize your wedding reception details at http://www.wedthemes.com/wedding-planning.shtml

It has been called the crowning glory of a woman. It can make the difference between looking like a demure maiden or a mischievous nymph. It can even make one look like a throwback to the 60’s.

The preparation for your wedding day look, yes even for your hair, begins as early as six months before the actual date. Much like your gown, quite a bit of thought and planning goes into making your tresses look magazine cover beautiful. Of course, only if you want to take the time; only if you’re not planning to just get your hair pushed into a bun and stuck with pins any which way.

Don’t worry. Getting your hair perfect for the occasion is quite easy. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps:

- Choose a professional hairstylist you can trust. Don’t let yourself get carried away by the name of the salon or how the place looks. You need to find someone whose hands and artistry you trust. Preferably who is more concerned with your looks than how much you will spend in their shop.

- Discuss with your stylist the kind of look you want for your wedding. This includes showing him any sketches of your gown if you’ve chosen one.

- Follow your stylist’s advice. They may recommend treatments and conditioning, as well as some coloring work be done. Trust that they are trying to make your hair look its best and not just make an extra buck. Trust your own judgment after all you chose him!

- Don’t forget to have a trial run. This should be done about a month before your wedding day. That will still give sufficient time should any adjustments or changes be necessary.