Great Chocolate Wedding Favors Ideas

One of the most important steps to planning any part of your wedding is knowing the theme and style of your wedding beforehand. This will help guide you in making decisions about how you will make your chocolate wedding favors

The Chocolate It is important to make some basic decisions early on, like the type of chocolate that you want in your wedding favor. You will have to choose from milk chocolate, dark chocolate and semi sweet chocolate. Typically one of the most elegant chocolate wedding favor gifts that you can give consists of a few carefully selected chocolate truffles. If this is the case

it is very easy to get the truffles in many different types of chocolates and a variety is a great way to go.

The Container The container is almost as important as the actual chocolates. What container you use will depend on the type of wedding you are having. For example if your wedding theme was a beach theme then a gold leafed or embossed box of chocolates might look out of place. So you will want to pick a container that matches the style and theme of your wedding. One very fun thing to use is a clear container. This shows off the beauty of the truffles inside.

The Label One popular trend that has been growing quickly among wedding gift favors is personalized wedding tags. You can easily print these at home on your computer. Your wedding guests will just fall in love with the favor if you get their name on the tag. You can also insert a little personality into the wedding labels for example a quote.

Some Guidelines Remember that with chocolate if you want to be very elegant then less is truly more. Instead of going with the bulk mentality use a few carefully selected or created chocolates that can be arranged beautifully. This type of wedding favor gift will just exude class. The chocolate is honestly more elegant and classy then a small box of tiny chocolate truffles very delicately arranges.

The most important part of creating incredible chocolate wedding favors is to have a plan and get started on it as far ahead as possible. Trying to make chocolate wedding favor gifts the last minute is a recipe for disaster. So plan ahead, get started early and follow the advice above and you will have one spectacular chocolate wedding favor.

by Sam Smith

Are Seating Assignments at Wedding Receptions Necessary?

Now you may have heard several terms when speaking of seating arrangements. Place cards, table cards and escort cards often are used interchangeably, but in fact, there are differences among the three. If your having designated seating, you'll need all three types.

Escort Cards: Let each guest know which table they are assigned to. These are commonly found on a table near the entrance of your reception room. Often these cards are tucked into a small envelope with your guests' name written on the outside. Tent cards can also be used for this. Another alternative is a seating chart that often is framed

and displayed outside the reception area.

Whether you prefer escort cards or a seating chart is a matter of personal preference. Escort cards can be changed up to the last minute, whereas a seating chart may need to be printed days or weeks in advance.

Escort or seating charts usually display the guests' names in alphabetical order. The most formal way to write your escort or seating arrangements is: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. This is the same as how the guests were addressed on the formal invitation envelope. The informal alternative is simply Mary and John Smith. If a husband and wife have different names, the wife's name usually gets listed first. If someone brings a guest, you can list both names on one card, or use two separate cards. If you choose one card for both names, the woman's name usually gets listed first, though many people will put the invited guest's name first, even if it is a man.

Table Cards: A table card is just that, a card that is prominently displayed on the table and identifies the table, usually with a number. An alternative to numbers is naming tables. You could name them after favorite flowers, places, love songs, or anything that is meaningful to you.

Place Cards: A place card is put at a specific seat; write the guest's name on both sides of the card so everyone knows whom their tablemates are. It can be formal such as a white or ecru card, or something festive and informal such as a place card inserted into a decorative holder.

How to write your guests' names on place cards: Formally, the name is written: Mr. Smith, if there are two Mr.Smiths at the table than the first name is used, i.e. Mr. John Smith. In an informal approach, you can use either John Smith or simply, John. The last name would be required if there are more than one of that name at the table.

Some popular choices to seat guests at tables are:

* Couples that come together are seated together

* Couples that come together are seated at the same table but not next to each other. In this case guests alternate male / female seating.

* At a round table, the best seat is that which is facing the honored guest(s)

Escort cards, table cards and place cards all serve a necessary function. They help your guests find their seats and they take pressure off of guests who may not know each other. For wedding couples on a budget, these needed wedding accessories are not necessarily expensive, escort cards can range from just a few cents each to several dollars depending on how elaborate you wish them to be. Your reception hall may provide table cards and stands, and place cards can be used for the most formal affairs. Additionally, if you're looking for a multipurpose wedding favor, there are numerous decorative and themed holders and frames that can serve a duel purpose: displaying escort or place cards, while guests can take them home as a souvenir.

By Erica Tevis

Wedding Toasts 101: the Basics & Tips

Sequence of the Toasts

The wedding toast is usually given first by the best man, then the father, the groom and the bride, and then followed by those who would like to give a toast. Versions may vary, however.

Other traditional sequences of wedding toasts also follow the best man as the first one to give the toast, followed by the groom who says a few words to his bride, parents, family, and members of the wedding party. After which, the groom is then followed by other people such as family members or friends who also want to give a toast, and then lastly, the father of the bride who thanks everyone

for attending the wedding.

On the other hand, a nontraditional manner of the sequence of wedding toasts starts off with the emcee toasting the bride and groom. This is followed by the groom saying a few words to the guests and his bride, followed by the bride giving a little speech to her parents and in-laws, and finally, the father of the bride thanking everyone who shared this special day with them.

The Actual Toast

Ever since a monk named Dom Perignon invented champagne, it has since become the number one drink during wedding toasts. So before performing the wedding toast, make sure that your own glass as well as the glasses of other people (most especially the bride and groom’s) are also filled with drink.

Stand next to the bride and groom when giving your toast, and using a spoon, tap your own glass in order to get people’s attention. Raise your glass using your right hand held straight from your shoulder, and then you can begin the wedding toast.

Wedding Toast Tips

Preparing the Speech: Practice!

Giving a wedding toast, albeit a short one, in front of so many people can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. However, it doesn’t really have to be, not as long as you come prepared. Write your speech down so you would know exactly what to say. Let it come straight from your heart, so that you would be able to convey the sentiments you want to impart to the couple you are toasting. You can also try showing it to someone for comment so that you can get feedback in improving on your speech. Remember to keep on practicing until you feel confident and comfortable enough to deliver it in front of a crowd.

K.I.S.S.

Keep your wedding toast brief and straight to the point, since you wouldn’t want to divert attention away from the happy couple. Nobody wants to listen to an extremely long speech, so remember this word—K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short and Simple). A good measurement of a wedding toast is around 3 minutes.

Giving the Speech

In giving the wedding toast, speak loudly and clearly especially if you don’t have a microphone, so that people would understand what you’re going to say. Talking loudly gives you a certain presence, and now that you have the audience’s undivided attention, it’s important to hold it by not mumbling your words. So remember to talk slowly, because this is not a race to get you to finish your speech as fast as you can. Remember, people actually want to hear what you have to say.

By Antoinette Boulay

Are Seating Assignments at Wedding Receptions Necessary?

ifferences among the three. If your having designated seating, you'll need all three types.

ENow you may have heard several terms when speaking of seating arrangements. Place cards, table cards and escort cards often are used interchangeably, but in fact, there are dscort Cards: Let each guest know which table they are assigned to. These are commonly found on a table near the entrance of your reception room. Often these cards are tucked into a small envelope with your guests' name written on the outside. Tent cards can also be used for this. Another alternative is a seating chart that often is framed

and displayed outside the reception area.

Whether you prefer escort cards or a seating chart is a matter of personal preference. Escort cards can be changed up to the last minute, whereas a seating chart may need to be printed days or weeks in advance.

Escort or seating charts usually display the guests' names in alphabetical order. The most formal way to write your escort or seating arrangements is: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. This is the same as how the guests were addressed on the formal invitation envelope. The informal alternative is simply Mary and John Smith. If a husband and wife have different names, the wife's name usually gets listed first. If someone brings a guest, you can list both names on one card, or use two separate cards. If you choose one card for both names, the woman's name usually gets listed first, though many people will put the invited guest's name first, even if it is a man.

Table Cards: A table card is just that, a card that is prominently displayed on the table and identifies the table, usually with a number. An alternative to numbers is naming tables. You could name them after favorite flowers, places, love songs, or anything that is meaningful to you.

Place Cards: A place card is put at a specific seat; write the guest's name on both sides of the card so everyone knows whom their tablemates are. It can be formal such as a white or ecru card, or something festive and informal such as a place card inserted into a decorative holder.

How to write your guests' names on place cards: Formally, the name is written: Mr. Smith, if there are two Mr.Smiths at the table than the first name is used, i.e. Mr. John Smith. In an informal approach, you can use either John Smith or simply, John. The last name would be required if there are more than one of that name at the table.

Some popular choices to seat guests at tables are:

* Couples that come together are seated together

* Couples that come together are seated at the same table but not next to each other. In this case guests alternate male / female seating.

* At a round table, the best seat is that which is facing the honored guest(s)

Escort cards, table cards and place cards all serve a necessary function. They help your guests find their seats and they take pressure off of guests who may not know each other. For wedding couples on a budget, these needed wedding accessories are not necessarily expensive, escort cards can range from just a few cents each to several dollars depending on how elaborate you wish them to be. Your reception hall may provide table cards and stands, and place cards can be used for the most formal affairs. Additionally, if you're looking for a multipurpose wedding favor, there are numerous decorative and themed holders and frames that can serve a duel purpose: displaying escort or place cards, while guests can take them home as a souvenir.

By Erica Tevis

Make Weight Loss a reality with Diet Pills

One mesmerizing look and they would do any thing for me - beg, borrow, steal. All other women of my age were simply the competition. I detested them and they did likewise. We only collaborated if we had some mutual gain.

They detested me more when I won the prom queen award for three years in a row. I was never attracted to men, who were the rugged football types. I wanted men who smelled of big money. I consistently dated wealthy heirs. They provided what I craved for the most - The best clothes, the ideal homes and jewellery, the more upscale and the more famous the designer, the better.

So, I

somehow managed to get through high school and used my wealthy contacts to get into a wealthy Swiss finishing school. My parents were assured by the school, that when I graduate out - I would be in great demand. I would be snapped up to the marital altar by the first eligible handsome millionaire. Was that a dream or perhaps ? Finishing school was a blur. They had a strict regimen for diet and exercise. Our every gesture was critically analysed to the point that even if I moved my head, that was frowned . We were supposed to breathe, walk, talk and even sleep in a particular way. Body odour was supposedly non-existent and all talk was meant for only one thing - for climbing the social ladder. I thought I would love it, but soon saw through it all. Life in this charmed circle was a fake. Everyone had their own little pert perversion and understandably so - the so called high life was extremely boring.

But, the school lived up to it's promise. It had a clear role in providing the ageing wealthy men of Europe with beautiful brides. The school organized the official goodbye in the form of a coming of age "Ball". I was charmed when, we were told that it would be held in Vienna, Austria. So we traveled to Vienna. Personally I loved the city and even more so when I met Alexander von Scheller., charming , handsome aristocrat and most importantly an eligible bachelor, a scion of Viennese society.

I was simply swept off my feet as the Viennese Waltz commenced. Alexander was everything I wanted - handsome, stable, mature and most importantly wealthy. That summer was to be the greatest summer of my life. Alexander invited me to stay at his beautiful villa in the heart of old Vienna. Within 2 months to the strains of the music of Mozart, he proposed. I did not think, I accepted without a moment's delay. He was 48 and I was 18. innocent, naïve and foolishly romantic. Our wedding would be the talk of town.

Married life was initially satisfying then it settled into a kind of monotonous humdrum. Life was shopping , cooking and cleaning and lots of gardening. I was soon as good as a professional gardener. Alexander was constantly away at work. He supposedly had a lot of business interests, I realized the truth only when the first pregnant business interest found her way to our house. He had a long line of girlfriends. That's when I realized that men true to character are completely polygamous. I soon lost my naivety and quickly can back to reality... and reality really bites. I packed all my things and took the first flight to London. As I wept through the flight, and could not stop even as my parents and friends consoled me. That is when I began to bloat. I was miserable throughout - I simply ate and ate and cried. It never occurred to me that I needed treatment for this depression. The months simply flew past and it was soon one year after my flight back. Alexander had not even called to check on me. I had expected him to call, woo me back with all kinds of promises, but he did not seem to care. When I saw him on the tabloid pages of "Sun", a young starling on the arm, that I realized what a waist my anguish was.

So, I picked up the meaty pieces of my body and decided to move on . I had gained 30 kg in just one year. I just somehow managed to get myself a job and decided that I would stand on my own two feet. With three months salary, enough downpayment for renting a small apartment, I moved out to live on my own. And, that's when the Godzilla episode happened. I wowed to teach these brats a lesson - I would lose weight and lose it fast and then they would only "gawk". So I began to diet. I decide to stick to a systematic diet regimen that gave me all the vital nutrients and yet at the same time ensured that I stuck to my weight target. My target was simple.I was going to go in for a weight loss of 1 kg per month. Easier said than done. I managed to lose 1 kg in the first month. I lost ½ kg in the second month . That when I decided to add a strong dose of aerobics to my weight loss plan. I went in for an hour of aerobics in the evening. That ensured that I lost 2 kg in the next month. But all this aerobics made me very hungry, I soon began to falter on my diet regimen.

That's when a friend suggested that I try diet pills. I had heard a lot about the so called side-effects of diet pills and was very wary of consuming them without medical supervision. That when I came across an article on safe prescription diet pills. The article ignited my mind and I decide to consult an appropriate dietician who prescribed safe diet pills for me. These pills were truly the best diet pills in the world. There were hardly any side-effects and I rarely felt hungry. I soon lost weight more rapidly and today after 2 years , I have lost 20 kg and gained a lot in terms of health and self-esteem. Today I get propositioned every second day by handsome men who think I look good. I still feel that I have a long way to go before I get back to my old "sexy" self, but life has changed beyond measure. Diet pills have made weight loss a reality for me. They can also do the same for you. Add them to your weight loss regimen today.

by Rosy Parker