Index: Pages/ Home, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Getting Engaged is Just the Beginning ... Now What?

Did You Know?????????

According to the United States Census Bureau (USCB), more than 2 million couples get married each year in the United States. The average bride is a shade over 25 years of age, while the average groom is nearly 27-years-old. In a nod to the changing nature of society, one-third of those getting married each year have been married before. That's especially notable to those who make a living providing wedding services, be it reception halls, videographers, photographers, or others who make their living in the wedding industry. That's because the average wedding budget is roughly $20,000, meaning weddings, even for brides and grooms who have been down the aisle before, remain a costly expense for the participants and a lucrative venture for those in the industry. In fact, $72 billion is spent on weddings each year. To put that in better perspective, consider that only $8 billion per year is spent on honeymoons, meaning brides and grooms are liable to spend nine times more ontheir wedding than they are on their honeymoon. June and August remain the months of choice for ceremonies, as more weddings occur in June and August than any other month. However, while July is the third most popular month to walk down the aisle, September and even October are becoming increasingly popular according to the Association for Wedding Professionals International.

Are you one of the thousands of couples who got engaged over the holidays? This is the time for you and your soon-to-be to get everything you ever wanted -- the time to start from scratch, to upgrade, expand and replace. To turn a whole bunch of mismatched mine and yours into a lifetime of ours.
"When it comes to registering, relax, take your time and have fun," recommends Audrey Stavish, a Bridal and Gift Registry expert at Bed Bath & Beyond. "Go back to the store as many times as needed, or update your registry online. There aren't any rules that you must follow. Choose items that are right for you and your soon-to-be. Go through the registry process together and have fun!"
Here are some additional tips to make wedding planning a breeze:
Plan Ahead: Start a bridal registry as soon as you say "yes." This way you will be prepared for your engagement party and bridal shower, as well as your wedding. Periodically update your registry by adding more products if you need to, even after the wedding. Be kind to procrastinators.
Don't be shy: Register for gifts in a range of prices and categories. This will give guests and group givers lots of options to choose from.
Look back and Plan Ahead! Discuss your background and personal preferences beforehand. It's also important to consider your future. Consider things like how often you'll entertain and how much you will be cooking.
Visit a store: It's in your best interest to visit a store and schedule an appointment with an expert consultant. Touch the towels, heft the flatware, see everything in person!
Do the math: Experts advise registering for 2-3 items times the number of guests you plan to have. Close friends and family will rely on your registry for special events leading up to the wedding -- such as engagement parties, bridal showers and holidays! Your guests will appreciate having lots of choices when they shop for you. Be sure to refresh your list regularly as gifts get purchased.
Register Now, Because You Won't Buy it Later: You may think you will ... but you won't. Now is the time to let others get you the stuff you'd never buy yourself. Your friends and family might even get together to purchase a higher priced "group gift."
Remember the Rule of Three: When it comes to setting your table, if you choose bold patterns for your china and flatware, pick a more simple style of glassware. Prefer intricate stemware? Pair it with simpler patterns of china and flatware. So, it's bold/bold/simple or simple/simple/bold.
Once you've set up your bridal registry, take advantage of Bed Bath & Beyond's Bridal Toolkit(R), the complimentary wedding planning tools available at bedbathandbeyond.com, including your own personal wedding Web site, budgeter, task manager, guest list manager, gift tracker, and even a seating arranger. This way, all of your information can be stored in one convenient place.
Congratulations and best wishes on your engagement. Now get registering and let the gift-giving begin.

Jewelry For the Entire Bridal Party

There are so many decisions to make when planning a wedding. Selecting the perfect jewelry to enhance the beauty of a bridal party is merely one of them. Deciding on jewelry can be one of the easier decisions to make, especially when you have a variety of styles to choose from right at your fingertips. From the perfect jewelry to go with the wedding gown to accessorizing the mother of the bride, an easy way to find beautiful choices for every woman in the wedding is with Carolee's 12-page bridal jewelry catalog. Browse through an elegant array of pearl, crystal and color stone bridal jewelry that has been especially designed with weddings in mind. And don't forget to thank bridal party members with heartfelt gifts, such as the Sterling Sentiments(R) LOVE or FRIEND bangles. In addition, this designer jewelry is not reserved for weddings alone; use it to accessorize evening wear for special occasions year round. For ideas on wedding jewelry or to request a free bridal catalog, visit www.carolee.com. Receive free shipping, too! Simply enter Bridal2 at checkout.