Weddings Inspired by France

Have you always dreamed of getting married in romantic Paris? With the moonlight shining and the Louvre in the background, it must be a magnificent sight! Too bad the budget won’t accommodate your actually having your nuptials there and have your family present at the same time.

Don’t be sad. If you can’t go to Paris for your wedding, why not bring Paris to you? With a little creativity and some help from the experts, you can have a Paris inspired wedding without the extreme cost of transporting everyone there.

Paris is a city of romance. Bring a touch of that romance to your wedding by having it in the moonlight. Why not have a tent to protect you and your guests from the coolness of the night, as well as from inclement weather. There are now tents that are clear or almost gauzelike so that you can see the stars shining above you.

You may not be in France but that doesn’t mean you can’t have french food. How about having fromage as an appetizer instead of butter and rolls? Cheese is a favorite in France and is considered a course all on its own. You may also want to have pate de foie gras as well. Oysters have long been considered aphrodisiacs, and you definitely want your groom stimulated for the wedding night, right?

A Salade Niçoise would make for an interesting salad dish. Escargot is an acquired taste but definitely delicious if your guests don’t mind eating snails. Coq Au Vin is another favorite and not as startling to those of your guests not used to exotic dishes. If you want to give your guests something more familiar to eat, how about a steak au poivre.

Don’t forget the wines! The French are famous for this and it makes sense to have at least some wine flow at your nuptials if you want to stay in theme. If nothing else, champagne for your toasts will be present.

Dessert is always supposed to be the perfect finish to a meal. Crepes are a healthy and beautiful favorite. Chocolate Mousse and Baba au Rhum are also favorites. There are so many pastries to choose from, it will really be up to your taste in desserts in the end that will determine what treats to close the meal with.

The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are too big to transport. But you can have a similar feel if you have your wedding high up on a hilltop so you get a good view of the city. Lighting and creative construction by a good crew can create a fake pyramid behind you. That will make for interesting pictures and a bit of dramatic effect for your reception.

Of course a key element will be the music. France has a very deep musical culture. The variety is quite wide. Unless you are very familiar with their music, you may want to ask for some assistance in choosing the appropriate songs to play at your reception. Unless you speak french you may end up with a song that has a great beat but without your realizing may be a song about breaking up. Definitely not something to play at your wedding.

It always pays to consult professionals. Hiring them can take a major load off your shoulders if you want to pull off something authentic since you will need truly inspired people to work on a theme such as this. It may cost you a bit more but the results can be worth it.

Wedding Proposal Funny Moments

Everyone, man or woman, has an image in their head of the perfect proposal. Guys see themselves shouting it from the biggest billboards in the city, in the middle of the biggest sports event of the season, maybe even on your favorite TV show. The women, simply see hope that the man of their dreams will declare their love, drop down on one knee and ask her to marry him. After which she says yes, they kiss and voila! It’s time to get ready for the wedding.

Creating perfect wedding proposals does call for a little planning and forethought (others call for a lot of planning). It is quite easy for something to go, well not exactly wrong but off the planned track, and make the event not quite how you hoped it would be. Here are some examples of funny happenings at wedding proposals.

AJ had arranged to have dinner with his intended bride at his favorite restaurant. He placed the ring in the folds of the napkin she’d be using so that she’d find it shortly after she sat down. Unfortunately, she pulled the folds open too fast, and the ring flew out and rolled away. AJ had all the waiters and guests suddenly looking under their tables for the tiny golden ring. Quite a sight with everyone suddenly below deck, so to speak. The ring was found, the proposal made and she did say yes….laughing all the time.

Sam on the other hand planned a romantic dinner for two. He had everything ready, or so he thought. He had carefully placed the ring her champagne flute so that he could ask her to make a toast, then propose. He didn’t expect that she would knock back her drink so fast and almost swallowed the solitaire. Take note: a glass is never a safe place to put the ring in.

Philip and Lisa met in a charity event held in the park over a year ago. He decided to propose to her on the same spot where they met. Everything was going well. He was all set. He got down on one knee and just as he was about to ask her to marry him…the rain came pouring down. It didn’t stop her from saying yes though they did end up soggy from the rain.

Greg knew his girlfriend Cindy was absolutely crazy about these Russian matryoshka nesting dolls. He’d purchased one that she said she really liked and laid out a trail through their house for her to follow. He’d placed the largest piece about two steps from the doorway with a note asking Cindy to find the next doll. She managed to find all but the last piece he’d set up. Inside it was the engagement ring. The only problem was, the halves got stuck and Cindy couldn’t get the ring out. It took a while, but yes they managed to get the ring on Cindy’s finger and they now have very happy memories associated with the dolls.

In order to avoid these funny scenes, just keep it simple. The ladies will appreciate a simple, heartfelt proposal without the razzmatazz just as much. They’ll still say yes if you’re the one they want and you get to avoid a potentially embarrassing and funny moment.

Great Places to Propose Marriage

Proposals are meant to be a memorable occasion. Where you propose can be as significant as how you proposed. Women already expect the dropping on one knee and you asking her to marry you. Add some spice to the moment, find a great venue to pop the question.

Paris is undoubtedly the city of lovers. It is an absolutely remarkable place. The Eiffel Tower with its wonderful view of the city is a wonderful place to ask for your lady’s hand.

Another great place to go to for the big moment is at the top of a mountain. If you’re both into hiking and climbing, make the most of the breathtaking view. She’ll surely appreciate the view and the effort you’ve made to get her to the top of the world.

In the restaurant you both love most is another great place to propose. After the great meal, ask her your question for dessert. Her saying yes will be enough dessert for you.

Many men have proposed to their ladies at the place where they first met. It adds a touch of nostalgia to the moment. It takes the wind out of the argument that men never remember important things. The day you met is obviously significant to you. If you can time it with the anniversary of the day you met would be even better.

How about proposing in the happiest place on earth? There are so many wonderful places to propose in Disneyland. How about in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle or by Snow White’s Well? There’s a waterfall if you’d like it more secluded and romantic. Or you can just propose just as you drop from the top of Splash Mountain’s biggest drop.

In the moonlight, on the beach is another favorite. There’s something so elemental about being on the sand and listening to the pounding of the waves. Take a moonlit stroll and take a chance. It just seems like one of the most perfect places to ask her to spend her lifetime with you.

Surprise her by proposing in front of her whole family in a clan gathering. You’d better really be sure she’ll say yes before trying this one because you’re putting your heart on display here. The great part, it also makes the celebration an instant engagement party if she says yes.

In the privacy of your own home is always a good place. Set the mood and ask her the question. Don’t forget the ring or champagne for the celebration.

No matter where you propose, don’t forget to make it special. You don’t need to have fireworks or an expensive meal. You can keep it simple and sincere and she’ll love that too. The important thing is to be true and make your proposal heart felt as you bring out the ring. She is sure to love the lengths you went to in order to make this moment unique, whether you propose while floating in mid air in a giant balloon or just with your feet on the ground.

Is It A Real Diamond?

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend and that it is the true symbol of love. Their sparkle makes them absolutely attractive to the ladies. A diamond takes time to form; and skill to shape and perfect - just as relationships are. They say nothing compares to a diamond. They are rare and precious gems.

But are you sure that what you gave your fiancé is really a diamond? It may look like a diamond, shine like a diamond, yet be anything but this costly gem. It may not even cost half of what you paid for it.

There are now many imitation diamonds out in the market. It is difficult to tell with the naked eye that the stone one is holding is the real thing or not. They are usually very well made. The best known imitation diamonds are moissanite and cubic zirconia.

Moissanite is a synthetic gem. It is not a fake diamond at all. It is a mineral that appears very similar to a diamond.

Moissanite is made in a laboratory using silicon carbide crystals. They have a more brilliant shine than diamonds. They are also less expensive, usually costing a mere 10th of the cost of the real thing.

Moissanite was discovered in the late 1800’s in Arizona, at the bottom of a meteor crater. It wasn’t until 1995 that it was discovered that there was a way to make these stones into jewelry. The process was perfected and cutting styles that would allow the moissanite to truly sparkle were crafted.

Moissanite stones are popular with couples who are working on a tight budget and want a ring with a bigger stone. That it sparkles so beautifully is a plus in their book. It is also pretty strong stone and is quite close to a diamond in hardness. Buyers should know though that moissanite tends to have greenish or grayish tint instead of being colorless.

Cubic Zirconia on the other hand was discovered in 1937 by two German scientists. It is created by heating and combining yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide in a complicated process perfected in 1970. To the naked and untrained eye, it would be difficult to distinguish a real diamond from a cubic zirconia stone if the imitation piece is well cut.

The most famous name in the retail of cubic zirconia is Swarovski and Co. Being less costly than the real gem; cubic zirconia has been used by the wealthy, the elite and the celebrities to decorate almost any fashion piece from jewelry to bags to clothes. There’s even a motorcycle encrusted with it owned by socialite turned actress, Paris Hilton.

If you want to get a diamond and want to avoid purchasing an imitation piece, you need to find yourself an honest jeweler. You also need to learn the basics of buying a diamond (namely the four C’s– cut, clarity, color and carat). Best of all, make sure that you get a certificate issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) identifying the uniqueness of your diamond.

Will your fiancée mind if you gave her an imitation gem? Only if you told her it was the real thing, would be our guess. After all, everybody hates to learn that they have been deceived. Better to let her make the choice and work within your budget.

Call In the Experts

You have made up your mind to get your lady a diamond. You’re prepared for the cost and you’ve got her parents approval. The only problem is, you’ve never done this before and you’ve heard of so many diamond scams, you don’t know who to trust.

First things first: you need to find yourself a jeweler that you can trust. One who is honest and will not rob you blind. You need someone who will be willing to walk you through the process of finding the perfect diamond for you and your lady without charging you an arm and a leg.

The most honest jewelers will also provide you with a certificate of the diamond that you choose. It is best that the certificate come from one of the laboratories renowned in the industry for their impartiality and ability to properly identify your diamonds attributes. The must trusted in this field are the following:

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is considered the world’s leading authority on gemology. Founded in 1931, this non-profit institution developed the famous four C’s method of grading diamonds. They are well known for their gem grading and identification services, not just in diamonds. They are considered the most unbiased and accurate in the field, usually giving conservative grading. Diamonds with a GIA certificate normally sell at about three to five percent higher than other gems because of this guaranty of quality.

The European Gemological Laboratory is an independent laboratory, considered one of the premier in the industry worldwide. Though not as strict as the GIA in their grading reports, they are usually reliable and provide a more detailed report than the GIA in terms of the proportion of the diamond you purchase.

The American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL) was founded in 1996. Just like its parent organization, the American Gem Society, the AGSL is dedicated to setting a new standard in the grading industry. They aim to provide consumers (the couple who will be the final owners of the stone) with reliable, unbiased and creditable reports on the quality of the diamonds that they purchase. They are considered the top in the field for grading the cut of a diamond; in fact they are often the preferred laboratory if the gem in question is being certified as an ideal cut.

The International Gemological Institute was founded in 1975 and is one of the leading gemological institutes worldwide. They seek to provide the consumers with a reliable report on their diamonds. As they see it, without a certification, a diamond has no history, it is just a gem. The certificate is the equivalent of the passport of the gems and jewelry that they certify.

As the consumer, it will now be your task to check that you are being given the right certificate. Check that the name of the laboratory that certified your gem is one of those listed above. One diamond scam to keep your eyes open for is having certificates from laboratories with similar initials as those of the above institutions. You may end up with a certificate from the Gemological Institute from Antarctica which is not what you need at all.

For more great tips on getting ready for your marriage, visit http://www.weddingtrix.com.

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