Archive for December, 2008

Valet Parking: Selecting A Merchant

by Ryan Tole

How do you go about choosing the right company to provide valet parking for your event? How do you know a great company from a so-so one? Are there ways you can tell? The phone book certainly isn’t much help. The ads in the business section in the back may give you the phone number and possibly the address, and maybe even a picture, but that’s about it. That’s not much information to go on. And most valet parking companies have a website these days, but that’s also hit and miss. Some are very informative, while others are bare bones. You’ll need to contact the companies directly, and ask them some questions before choosing one.

By talking to them directly, yourself, you don’t have to rely on their advertising. You can cut right to the chase and ask them anything you want to ask them. Write down a bunch of questions before you start calling. If you don’t know what questions to ask, keep reading! It’s very important that you have the list of questions written out ahead of time to make sure you cover each one. And it’s probably easier if you set aside a block of a few hours to call all the companies, instead of calling one today, another one tomorrow, etc. It will make it a lot easier to compare companies, and you won’t have to remember where you left your notes.

How old is your company?

About how many weddings and other events has your company done the valet parking for over the years?

Are your employees bonded? Are they all insured?

What kinds of insurance do you have?

What’s the amount of coverage on each policy?

What standards do you set for driving records of people you hire?

How about criminal background checks?

How about references? Do you have a list of customers I can contact about their experience with your firm?

How much do you charge?

You can probably think of a few other questions yourself that might apply to your specific situation. But these are the basic questions you should ask of any valet parking company before you hire them. Don’t take any chances.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

Does Modern Wedding Etiquette Allow Others to Pay?

by Florina Blankenlist

It costs a lot to get married in America. Brides, before you start buying from suppliers talk to your husband-to-be first and discuss the wedding budget. Please don’t go bridezilla and make unreasonable demands for your wedding. First, determine who pays for your wedding and will cover the largest percentage of your wedding budget. This will serve as a realistic guideline for couples who would like to know the basic etiquette in who pays for what.

Wedding Etiquette on who pays for the weddings has evolved for the last century. Traditionally, wedding etiquette books dictate that the bride’s father should pay for the wedding. This was during the time when girls were kept by their fathers inside their house, not allowed to work and go to school, but do household chose and must have lessons from lady manners to teach them social etiquette and wedding etiquette in preparation for their life as married women.

In the old days, a a father gave his to a man he believed could take care of her after he passed away. Since he was giving the girl, it was fitting for him to pay for the affair. It was also a sign of his agreeing to the marriage. This is the reasoning behind the more traditional etiquette concerning who pays for the wedding. Times have obviously changed.

Today, wedding etiquette on who pays for the wedding is not as rigid as it was before. The bride and the groom can go traditional, and thus should ask the father of the bride to host the wedding and pay for the entire wedding expenses. Or if the parents of the groom have expressed their desire to be a co-host of the wedding event, they may do so, especially if the parents of the groom are wealthy and are able to cover some of the expenses.

Brides and grooms today both tend to be working and making their own living. It is completely appropriate for them to pay for their own wedding. You might be surprised to know that many couples would rather pay for their own wedding. This way they can more direct control over how many guests and who is and is not invited and how the ceremony is conducted. Modern wedding etiquette on who pays for the wedding is allows for this.

Because of the high cost of living these days, paying for the entire cost of the wedding may be beyond the means of the parents of the bride or even of the parents of the groom. If the bride and the groom are earning money for themselves, they may consider paying for the entire expenses fo their wedding.

There are many parents who wish to contribute to the wedding budget. Couples should be considerate of their feelings. Allow them to help to the level they desire. Perhaps they have even saved up for this day.

One reasonable alternative is to sit down and discuss the wedding plans with your parents. Talk about the probable cost of your plans and see what they feel comfortable paying for. By doing this, the parents will know exactly how much they will have to pay and you will also know how much you need to provide.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Etiquette Comments

State Marriage Records California

by BenDave

California Marriage Records display applications for marriage licenses and their records proper by name, date and county. The California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records is charged with maintaining its states marriage records along with all the other categories of public records. Confidential marriage records are issued through the various counties that grant marriage licenses. Likewise, California divorce records are only available in the county office where the divorce decree dissolving the particular marriage by the Superior Court was issued. As a result of the California Public Records Act, anyone in California can view and request copies of basically all public records including marriage records.

You can find free California marriage records at county offices as well as online at various websites offered by government agencies of the state of California. The information found at these places will suffice for the purpose of broad research but if you need something more detailed and in-depth, an official set of marriage records is probably necessary. In the state of California, the Office of Vital Records is authorized to release marriage records, as well as Certificates of Record in divorce cases. Fees are charged for the issuance of their certified copies.

As with other states across the country, it is possible to assemble California marriage records yourself but getting it done by hiring an outside company to do that for you is the preferred option for most people. Each option has its own pros and cons and it’s up to the individuals to decide which would be able to better serve their needs and preferences. Financial expense and convenience are typical considerations but in many cases such as legal or official situations however, that is dictated by the requirements of the circumstances.

Within the state of California, you can view public records at the Public Health office in each county or request them via email or internet. Contact the California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records to obtain the lists of necessary forms and fees for acquiring official copies of both marriages and divorces. But be forewarned – getting marriage records on your own takes some work and waiting time. The California Office of Vital Statistics has a backlog of up to six months. They advocate going directly to the incumbent county offices in person to view and request copies of all types of public records. It is advisable to enquire ahead through telephone as different counties require different forms and fees for this service.

A practical solution to get around the lead-time and legwork is by turning to commercial record providers. With their experience and infrastructure, they can speed things up considerably for you. They can turnkey the whole thing for you. Their service includes searching and retrieving the marriage records based on the information that you supply, placing order for them and follow through on the delivery of their certified copies.

The public records business is demanding and competitive. Industry leaders are highly professional and have extensive experience in getting public records from county offices. In order to survive in the game, they have to charge affordable rates also. They will get the forms, enquire the fees and advise on applicable state laws. Many of them have in-house databases of marriage and divorce records for existing or potential customers, completely circumventing the need to wait on government agencies to produce those records.

There are now an estimated 36 million people in California and records have been kept since 1850. As a result, there are quite a few million California Marriage Index in existence. Locating the one that you seek precisely can therefore be quite a challenge. It’s probably best to engage professional service if time and integrity of information is of the essence.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

Free Marriage License Search

by Ben Dave

Marriage is much more serious than it’s treated by many. In the US, the state steps in to help make the point. Like other cosmopolitan environments, there are variations among the ethnic and religious groups in joining people in matrimony. The requirements can also differ from state to state but people other than the couple are always involved. Yes, there will be a conducting official.

Legal witnesses of the ceremony are also required in certain states. Even God and deceased ancestors may also be involved by religious and customary practices. Rejection and protest from certain religious groups or beliefs notwithstanding, it is mandated by law that a marriage can only legally proceed after a Marriage License has been obtained from the state authorities.

The requisites for application are typically age, identity, residency, medical examinations and clearance from any previous marriages if any. They can be issued by the state of residence of the couple or where the marriage ceremony is planned to be officially conducted. Fees are usually nominal but lead time can be long, up to a month in some states.

After the ceremony, the license is then signed off by the new couple and the official to file for certification and the issuance of the Marriage Certificate. Both the license and certificate are then entered as public marriage records into the respective files of the new spouses. They will then be maintained as public records at the county or state where the marriage has taken place, whichever is the revailing practice. Being public records, they will be subject to public retrieval and view as long as procedures are complied with and fees are paid.

Same-sex, or gay marriages are a little bit trickier. They are recognized in less than half the states. A handful others are fuzzy about it, recognizing them as legal union and offering explicit marriage rights and responsibilities while not calling them marriages. Be prepared for some surprises with such states.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

Why You Should Find Love Via Online Dating!

by Ferda Shinsky

For years and years the word about online dating wasn’t always so kind. Negative news reports and other stigma’s have been attached to give online dating a bad name. Stories of people meeting and not being who they really advertise are the norm.

Now days this is an occurrence that happens very rarely. Online dating has transformed itself over the years to the new bar or club where couples used to meet. Countless numbers of couples have met over online dating sites and are happily married with their soul mates.

As you flip the channels, it is hard to miss commercials from Eharmony and Match.com. The Eharmony commercials always catch my attention. They usually show a strong, empowered female, saying she is too busy to look for a mate and turns to Eharmony to help her do the work. Then there is a flash to the couple together and all it took was a profile on line to match chemistry.

Online dating has evolved into the old dating scene that existed. It opens up more opportunities than thought possible and introduces you to millions of people across the world. Millions that you would not meet by just bar hopping on Friday and Saturday nights. With so many people out there, the odds of meeting someone online compared to in person is not even comparable.

Just giving online dating a shot can not hurt and is worth the time. Keep in mind that making a strong profile to sell yourself is the most important part in catching someone’s eye. Make sure that you keep it very accurate and give enough information to make the other member want to contact you. Having a fake picture or fake information can only hurt you in the long run.

Look around, it is more common these days to find couples who have met online. The internet has fused itself with every day life. Many people are embracing this lifestyle and integrate it into their daily schedule. I have even dabbled in online dating myself.

One of the best things about online dating is the possibility to actually communicate thoroughly with your match. This allows more of a personal connection rather than a physical attraction. Although looks are always important, being able to relate to your companion is definitely a more important aspect of a successful relationship.

The future has a lot more great things in store; online dating being one of them. It creates so much happiness as is and thousands of people continue to start looking into it themselves. There is nothing hard about falling in love, it all revolves around looking in the right places – online dating is the answer for many.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

What You Should Know About a Wedding

by Louis Soul

When two people get married whether in a civil ceremony or religious one, it is called a wedding. The legal act of marriage generally occurs at the time of signing a marriage license or other legal document, and the wedding is then an opportunity to perform a traditional ceremony and celebrate with friends and family.

A woman taking part in the ceremony is called a bride, a man called a bridegroom, after the ceremony they become a wife and a husband, respectively. Of course other wedding traditions can be much more complicated as soon as you look into different race, social classes and ethnic groups to name a few.

Even in today’s climate, the traditional Church wedding is still the most popular service. Primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and the British Commonwealth, these ceremonies are known as white weddings.

Double weddings are quite rare as they usually entail getting tow couples to marry at the same time and same place. Typically, a person with a brother or sister might plan a double wedding with that sibling.

A destination wedding is any wedding in which the engaged couple and or a majority of their guests travel to attend the ceremony. It doesn’t matter exactly where you travel to, whether it is in Egypt or just to Las Vegas it will still be considered a destination wedding.

Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having their weddings over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. Other weddings come under the term of either themed or special activity weddings which usually take place over a weekend period. This is quite a good idea especially if the bride and groom have similar interests as both they and their guests can stay at the same location.

An online wedding is a wedding that is either conducted on the internet, or can be an event that resembles a normal wedding when two people who wish their characters, perhaps in a game, to be married. There are even guides for information on how to go about an internet wedding with information on people that can carry it out for you. An online wedding also refers to where a couple decides to have their wedding ceremony broadcast live on the internet.

Civil weddings have to be carried out by a local justice of the peace, judge, Although it may sound clinical, civil ceremonies usually make no reference to God. These wedding services are brief and to the point because they are a legal procedure and the couple getting married does not mind the circumstances of the marriage, just the fact that they are married.

The information provided here is mainly about weddings and marriage in the Western world primarily based on and around Christian beliefs.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

What is the Real Meaning of a Wedding

by Louis Soul

A wedding is a ceremony that celebrates the beginning of a marriage or civil union between two people. Despite the religious perspective to describe a marriage, it is still a legal matter and documents must be signed before the law recognizes that a couple is married.

The names bridegroom and bride extend around the world just as the names of husband and wife do once they are married. There are many factors that can affect a wedding tradition and those of religion, race and social class for example, ca make it very complicated.

Traditionally the church wedding is the most popular where the ceremony is presided over by a Christian priest. White weddings may be quite normal for those of us that live in the United States, UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth but they are not always accepted worldwide amongst Christian faiths.

Double weddings are quite rare as they usually entail getting tow couples to marry at the same time and same place. Typically, a person with a brother or sister might plan a double wedding with that sibling.

A destination wedding is any wedding in which the engaged couple and or a majority of their guests travel to attend the ceremony. Whether this happens for an intimate beach ceremony in the Caribbean, extravagant nuptials in Las Vegas or for a simple ceremony in someone’s back yard, chances are it qualifies as a destination wedding.

Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having their weddings over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. Other weddings come under the term of either themed or special activity weddings which usually take place over a weekend period. This is quite a good idea especially if the bride and groom have similar interests as both they and their guests can stay at the same location.

An online wedding is a wedding that is either conducted on the internet, or can be an event that resembles a normal wedding when two people who wish their characters, perhaps in a game, to be married. Planning is made easy, with online wedding guides where reliable and friendly vendors are listed. This does actually have an interesting angle where relatives and friends from around the world can see the wedding take place in real time without actually being there.

Civil weddings have to be carried out by a local justice of the peace, judge, Although it may sound clinical, civil ceremonies usually make no reference to God. These wedding services are brief and to the point because they are a legal procedure and the couple getting married does not mind the circumstances of the marriage, just the fact that they are married.

The information here has been provided to help people who live primarily in the Western world a better comprehension of just what a wedding really is.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

Edible and Personalized Chocolate Wedding Favours

by Louis Soul

A favorite at many wedding receptions is edible wedding favors, they will always please the vast majority of guests. Sweet or savory are the only decision you will really have to make and of course how much you intend to spend. Chocolate candy might not be the most elaborate gift even if it does come in a special wrapper but that does not make it any less welcome to hungry guests.

Of course hand made or fine quality chocolate will be received with greater enthusiasm than the regular type you might buy from the local store! A particularly loving touch is for there to be a message from the couple on the candy wrapper in addition to the wedding details.

There is nothing wrong with adding a photo of the couple as well to finish off the gift to ensure it is something the guests will probably keep too remind them of the day. Why not have a tin filled with different types of candy as your edible wedding favor to your guests. These tins become mementos of the big day if the bride and groom have gone to the trouble of having the wedding details placed on every tin. You can guarantee your guests will take the tins away with them even if they are empty because not only will they be a reminder of the day but they are practical as well. Overall, edible wedding favors are the most popular and candy is at the top of the list.

By using a large glass bowl in the center of every table, the bride and groom can fill them with their own choices of candy for everyone to share. You can also leave a small presentation box with details of the wedding, and one that can even match the wedding theme if there is one. Then the guests can fill their containers with the candy before they leave the reception later. Cookies are other options for brides and grooms who want to give out edible wedding favors and there are a number of different options in this case. Undecorated cookies are best because they are supposed to go inside a decorated box which can have the wedding day details printed on it.

Current technology allows for a photo to be printed on the cookie so a couple could choose to do this as an alternative to a presentation box. Cookies can be baked in a variety of shapes so all that needs to be done is to supply a picture for them to imprint. Edible wedding favors can also come in the form of teas, coffees and cocoa for something a little more sophisticated. There are a number of specialty teas and coffees available which can then be packaged in something appropriate for the wedding. A picture and other wedding information can also be placed on the box or container because it adds that touch of individuality. If you have not found any of these suggestions appealing, there is no reason why you cannot come up with something that is completely unique for your guests!

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments

Maternity Bridesmaid Dresses – What is out there for me to wear?

by Laurie Vander

Should you back out of your role as a bridesmaid because you’re pregnant? Absolutely not. Many women think they will be a burden or look silly when they are standing up for their friend who is getting married. It’s a wonderful opportunity to show off your beautiful belly and be a part of a wonderful day.

There are plenty of options available for a maternity bridesmaid dress. It is easy to order a bridesmaid dress in a bigger size or in a maternity size to be the same as the other bridesmaids dresses if the bride wants you in the same wedding attire. It’s a good idea to check out which designers carry non-maternity bridesmaid dresses and then select a matching maternity bridesmaid dress made with the same fabric.

Dresses will vary in style from tea-length and cocktail-length all the way to full length. You can choose from a variety of fabrics such as chiffon, lace and satin. Mix and match tops and skirts are available and a great choice. You can choose A-line skirts or pants if you want a more conservative look for the wedding.

Another option is having the bridesmaid dresses wear different colors with different styles. This is especially nice for fall weddings. Dresses in eggplant, rust, chocolate, and burgundy are rich, fall colors. Different styles of dresses are more common in a wedding party now than ever before. V-neck, square neck, strapless or a gown with spaghetti straps are great for summer weddings. Body types are all unique and one dress may look great on one girl but not on the next. It is nice to know there are a variety of choices to choose from when selecting a maternity bridesmaid dress.

Planning a wedding can be a stressful time for the bride to be. The wedding is about the bride and groom. Lets not forgot that when we are planning a wedding.

About the Author:

Archived under Wedding Tips Comments