2011 Wedding Planner

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    Wedding

    Planner

    Sctn Fows

    fo You Wn

    2011 NorTherN MichigaN

    Choosing YourWedding Rings

    Tmn fo PnnnYou Wn

    & Much More!

    Brought to you by:

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    By Joe TalenT

    It may seem as if you have plenty oftime to plan your wedding that is somany months away. You may be sur-

    prised to learn that you should begin

    planning a big wedding a year beforethe event. To prevent things from slip-

    ping between the cracks and to helpyou stay on track, use the checklist thatfollows.

    12 MoNThS BeForeThe question has been popped and

    you're in planning mode. Now is thetime to pick the date, decide the styleand scale of the event, and work out a

    budget. (If you're still speaking to eachother after this important initial plan-ning stage, that's a very good sign.)Once you've accomplished the above,it's time to:

    qBuy an engagement ring (if you

    haven't already). Visit your local

    Jeweler to get advice on selecting a

    diamond engagement ring. The quali-

    ty of diamonds varies greatly and you

    should select a trustworthy jeweler

    for professional advice.

    qDetermine the size of your wed-

    ding ceremony and reception with

    both parents.

    qSet a date for the wedding.

    qTalk with your parents about the

    budget for the wedding and reception.

    qNow is the time to hire a Wedding

    Consultant if you want professional

    advice in planning your wedding.

    qDecide and reserve a wedding and

    reception site.

    qHire a photographer

    qHire a florist and begin looking at

    options for the wedding and the

    reception.

    qSelect bridal attendants, best man,

    and ushersqPlan for your financial future

    together. Talk about financial goals

    and prenuptial agreements now.

    qContact your local paper for inserting

    an announcement of your engagement.

    9 MoNThS BeForeThe date and location of the wed-

    ding have been set. Now you need tobegin working on some of the detailsfor the big day.

    qDiscuss the formality and cus-

    toms of the wedding ceremony with

    your parents and fianc.

    qPlan the number of guests youwill invite to the wedding and recep-

    tion. This may be determined by the

    facilities where the ceremony and

    reception will be held.

    qStart looking for a caterer. Begin

    looking at menu options for your

    reception.

    6 To 8 MoNThS BeForeStart shopping for what you and you

    fianc will wear at your wedding. Thisusually takes some time to come to adecision you both agree on. You'llneed extra time if your garments are

    being made to order.

    qChoose a wedding gown anddresses your bridal attendants.

    qSelect a tuxedo for the

    groom and his attendants.

    qChoose a person to officiate

    at the wedding. If your wed-

    ding will be held at a church

    you should select a pastor,

    priest, rabbi or reverend. If the

    wedding is non-religious you

    can hire a judge, magistrate or

    legally licensed official.

    qPlan your honeymoon. Do

    this together.

    qDetermine the guest list and

    order invitations.qReserve a room for your

    wedding night.

    qMake arrangements for

    music at your reception.

    qHave your engagement

    party if you are planning one.

    qChoose your caterer and

    design your plan for your

    reception.

    2 To 6 MoNThS BeFore

    qMake arrangements for the

    rehearsal dinner.

    qMake arrangements for out-of

    town guests.

    qMake appointments for hair and

    nails. You may want to schedule a

    massage.

    qMake final choices on food, wines

    and champagne.

    qAddress invitations.

    qMake wedding gift wish list.Register at appropriate stores for

    bridal registry.

    qTalk to the organist and musicians

    about music for your wedding cere-

    mony

    qPurchase the wedding rings.

    qMake arrangements for wedding

    day transportation.

    qOrder your wedding cake.

    qBegin looking for a new home.

    qPurchase guest book and wedd

    album.

    2 MoNThS ahead

    qFinalize arrangements with the

    tographer, florist, caterer, musician

    reception hall, church and pastor.

    qHave final fittings for bridal a

    attendants' gowns.

    qHave fittings for groom and at

    dants tuxedos.

    qPurchase gifts for bridal attend

    best man, and ushers.

    qSend copies of ceremony plan

    wedding participants. Identify the

    involvement.

    qWrite the your vows and plan

    ceremony.

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    3 To 6 WeekS ahead

    qMail invitations four to six

    weeks before the ceremony.Include maps for out-of-town

    guests.

    qDesign an itinerary for your

    wedding day. Assign a time sched-

    ule for each task for you and your

    florist, caterer, photographer and

    reception host.

    qGet your marriage license. Be

    sure to take your birth certificates.

    If divorced or widowed take the

    divorce decree or spouse's death

    certificate.

    qSchedule your blood test. (Not

    required in every state)

    qMake changes of names andbeneficiaries to bank accounts,

    medical forms, credit cards and

    insurance.

    qPick up forms from newspaper

    to submit your wedding announce-

    ment.

    qMake a record of all gifts and

    write the thank you notes as the gifts

    arrive.

    qMake arrangements for a dress-

    ing room for the bride and bride'sattendants.

    qSend invitations to the rehearsal

    dinner.

    2 WeekS ahead

    qHave your blood test.

    qGo over final details with your

    caterer, florist, photographer,

    reception hall management, DJ or

    band, and the church administrator.

    (Or site administrator if your wed-

    ding is not at a church)

    qMake lists of all last-minute

    questions.

    qGo over itinerary to finalizetime schedule. This is a time

    schedule for you, the florist, pho-

    tographer, caterer and reception

    host.

    qGive photographer the final list

    of pictures you want.

    qCall guests who haven't

    responded to your invitation.

    1 Week ahead

    qRelax and enjoy your rehearsal

    and rehearsal dinner.

    qWrap and tag gifts for bride and

    groom attendants.

    qPack for the honeymoon.

    qGive a final count of guests

    expected for the wedding reception

    to the caterer.

    qCreate a seating plan for the

    reception. Make place cards for

    seating at the head table.

    qMake sure all attendants have had

    final fittings of their gowns and tuxe-

    dos.

    The daY BeForeEverything should ready, relax.

    Enjoy the day. Pamper yourself.Spend the day enjoying your friendsand family. Go to the spa; get amanicure or a massage. Get lots ofrest. Tomorrow will be a busy dayand you must be rested and ready toenjoy your big day.

    The Big daY

    qHave a hearty breakfast. As

    day goes on you may not take

    quate time to eat.

    qThe bride should have your

    makeup and hair done about th

    hours before the wedding. Beg

    dressing one hour before the w

    ding.

    qThe groom should give the ding ring and the marriage cer

    cate to the best man to bring to

    ceremony. Put fees for musicia

    and pastor in separate envelop

    qMusic should start 30 minut

    before the ceremony. Five min

    before the ceremony, seat the

    groom's parents. Immediately

    before the processional march,

    the bride's mother.

    qThe groom should dance fir

    with your bride and then with

    mother, your new mother-in-la

    and the bridesmaids.

    aFTer The WeddiNg

    qSend the announcement and

    wedding photo to local and ho

    town newspapers.

    qWrite and mail thank you no

    qLove your spouse.

    Copyright 2011 Publisher

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    By ChrisTy PoTTer

    When it comes to planning yourwedding, the flowers are an important

    consideration. They add color, texture

    and fragrance to your ceremony, andare a reflection your personality.

    Ardith Beveridge, AAF, AIFD,PFCI, director of Koehler andDramms Institute of Floristry in

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, said when abride consults a florist, the first thingthe florist should ask is if the brides-

    maids have their dresses. Before youdo anything, you have to ask whatcolor the bridesmaids dresses are,

    Beveridge said. Second, find out thedate of the wedding, because the costof the flowers is dictated by the date.

    We can get any flower at any time, butif flowers have to be flown in from

    elsewhere, it will be more expensive.The florist will also ask the bride

    about the style of the wedding whether its a formal, evening wed-

    ding or a more casual, afternoon wed-ding. For a more formal wedding, the

    bride may wear a long train and there-

    fore would carry a longer, more cas-cading bouquet, Beveridge said.

    She said most brides decide what

    colors they want first, then they go onto the specific flower they have inmind. The florist should help the bride

    decide on the texture of her bouquet.Different combinations of flowersensure good texture, Beveridge said.

    The florist needs to remind the bride

    that shes really choosing flowers for photography and videography. The

    bouquet needs to look be three-dimen-sional or it wont photograph well. Forexample, a big bouquet of white roses

    may look beautiful in person, but in

    the pictures and on the video, it willjust look like a big, white ball.

    Most brides, Beveridge said, know

    what they want in their wedding flow-ers before they arrive at the florist.

    Sometimes its the flowers their momhad at her wedding, or something theysaw in a picture and really liked, shesaid.

    Its important that bridal bouquet be proportionate to the physical size ofthe bride, Beveridge said. The width

    should be inside hip bone to inside hipbone, and the length should be navel toknee.

    The same holds true for brides-maids flowers. Your 12-year-oldniece and your sister who plays bas-

    ketball need to have different sized bouquets, Beveridge said. Talk toyour florist about customizing. You

    dont want your little niece with ahuge bunch of flowers that she has todrag down the aisle.

    The grooms boutonniere is tradi-tionally a flower taken from brides

    bouquet. The mothers corsages are

    often pin-ons or wrist corsages, butlately more people have been optingfor a hand-held corsage, to eliminate

    pin damage on an expensive dress,Beveridge said.

    Although the choice of flower varies

    greatly from bride to bride, Beveridgesaid tropical flowers, such as birds of

    paradise or orchids are very popular.

    Theyre not as expensive as youmight think, because you only use one

    or two, she said. Orchids, for exam-ple, are put in with more casual flow-ers now, and it makes a beautiful bou-quet.

    A bride should also consider howshe could use flowers during thereception. Beveridge suggests rather

    than having the same floral design onevery table, have the same flowers butseveral different designs. It helps

    make the wedding so much more per-sonal, and it gets people movingaround the room because they want to

    see the different arrangements, shesaid.

    And, when the bride and groom are

    about to leave, the bride can pull outan extra little floral surprise. Theflorist can take about 12 accent flow-

    ers with a little foliage and tie it upwith a ribbon, then tie them all togeth-er with another ribbon so it looks like

    a regular bouquet, Beveridge said.When the bride is ready to toss herbouquet, she pulls the ribbon and

    tosses, and 12 little bouquets go outinto the crowd. People dont expectthat at all. Its really fun.

    Sherry Reinking, AAF, AIFD, PFCI,vice president of Armstrong Flowers,Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been

    in the floral business for 42 years anddoes between 80 and 100 weddingsevery year. She said when it comes to

    wedding themes; there is no such thingas usual.

    Vintage weddings are popular right

    now, ranging from styles from the1800s to the 1930s and 40s, Reinkingsaid. And Ive been to bridal shows

    where they demonstrated futuristicstyles. It really runs the gamut.Reinking said brides are often looking

    for flowers with vibrant, bright colors,such as gerbera daisies. A lot of

    brides like to have their bouquet all

    one color, she said. Our job is toenhance the dress.

    The bouquet styles are also varied

    and depend on the brides taste. Abride with a full skirt and a long veiledtrain will usually opt for the presenta-

    tion style, which she carries lyingacross her arm, Reinking said. Other

    bouquet types include the wand style,

    in which the flower stems are exed about 18 inches and trimmed ratively; and the ever-popular cas

    I still have three or four out of 10 weddings I do in which the wants the cascade, Reinking sai

    never goes out of style.Reinking said she has

    some interesting theme weddings

    the years, including a Walt Dithemed wedding and a cowboy ding, for which she created a u

    bouquet of protea and southwthistles. After the wedding, the and groom rode away on his hors

    Reinking was the floral designanother wedding that took placMarch 17. We did the whol

    Patricks Day theme, with shamand moss on the cake table, sheIt was really a fun wedding.

    Copyright 2010 Publishe

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    By amanda Knoles

    Aside from choosing an unflattering

    wedding gown, the biggest mistakemost brides make is overdoing their

    makeup and hair. Instead of highlight-ing their best features and choosing ahairstyle that works with their face andveil, many brides try to copy a look

    they've seen on a celebrity or go for acomplete makeover that can look total-ly unnatural.

    It's not a bad idea to consult a hairstylist and makeup professional a fewweeks before your wedding day. If

    possible, bring a photo of your dressand veil. Then listen carefully to sug-gestions. Your goal should be to look

    radiant and natural, not like a clone ofa magazine picture.

    Choose flattering light and neutral

    makeup colors that will give your facea healthy looking glow. Eye shadowshades of cream, peach and pink will

    compliment a white or ivory dresswithout looking too dramatic. Avoidheavy foundations and dark blush, eye

    shadow and lipsticks. Applying yourlipstick with a brush and blotting willhelp it last longer. A lightweight water-

    proof foundation and waterproof mas-cara will help your makeup lastthrough the inevitable tears. If you

    anticipate crying a lot, you may wantto skip mascara on your lower lashes.

    (No one wants to seeraccoon eyes in wed-

    ding photos!)Your foundation

    should match your skin

    tone as closely as possi-ble. Careful blending ofyour foundation, eye

    shadow and blush cre-ates the most flatteringlook. Avoid frosted

    shadows, blushes andlipsticks that are toodark or too shiny. Don't

    use a heavy lip liner. Itcan appear harsh in pho-tographs. Remember

    that your wedding andreception will last sev-eral hours, so it's a good

    idea to keep a touchupkit handy with powder,

    blush and lipstick soyou can touch up occa-sionally throughout theday or evening. A translucent powder

    will keep you looking fresh and reduceunflattering shine in photos.

    Give yourself plenty of time to

    experiment with any new skin care products or makeup a few weeks before your wedding. You don't want

    to risk a rash or other allergic reactionthat could spoil your big day.

    Your hairstyle should compliment

    your face anddress and lookelegant with or

    without a veil orhat. Study thebridal magazines

    for hairstylesthat you like andconsult with a

    hairstylist aboutwhat will work

    best with your

    hair type. Keepin mind that hairextensions, falls

    and hairpieces

    can help you achieve a glamorous

    style if your hair is too short for an updo.

    If you normally wear your hair long

    and straight, you may want to considerlong, flowing curls adorned with aheadpiece of flowers and pearls. Veils

    are available in a variety of styles andlengths from short to long. If you don'twant to wear a veil, you may choose to

    accent your hairstyle with beautifulbarrettes, combs and tiaras. Hair stickscurved like chopsticks can help keep a

    fresh twist or veil in place.A smooth shiny updo of straight hair

    works well with a slinky satin gown. A

    dress with layers of tulle is betteraccented with soft curls. A short col-umn dress looks terrific with a tex-

    tured or sleek bob.If you have a round face, sleeker

    styles with longer veils will be more

    flattering. Fuller hairstyles and veilscompliment narrow faces. If you arewearing a long veil, a hairstyle with

    less volume on top is more appropri-

    ate. Another option is a Juliet to

    or a chignon at the nape of the The French twist is a classic westyle that works beautifully with

    and short veils and can hold uhours. If you can't decide betweupdo or flowing hairstyle, co

    pulling part of your hair back wirest left flowing down your bayour hair is very long or you w

    add hairpieces, braids can also bromantic adorned with flowe

    beads and crystals. You may also

    to choose a style that can be wofor the wedding and down at the tion.

    Along with your dress andshape, take into consideratioheight of the groom and the tim

    place of the wedding. Elaboratepieces and sparkly crystals are a choice for an evening cerem

    Flowers, wreaths, headbands anare perfect for daytime and moreal settings.

    Copyright 2010 Publishe

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    By della serene

    One of the highest honors anyonecan receive is being asked to stand up

    for a bride as the maid or matron ofhonor, and for the groom as his bestman. But, with the honor comes great

    responsibility. In the weeks leading upto the wedding day, there are sometime-honored requirements that the

    attendants must fulfill. Then, on theday, itself there are additional respon-sibilities that can only be trusted to

    someone who has shown loyalty to the bride and groom over the years.Because the bride and groom have a

    lot to think about, keeping the jitters toa minimum is a major part of the jobdescription for the attendant.

    Exactly what the responsibilities arewill vary upon the needs and wants of

    the bride and groom and the scope ofthe wedding. The bride and groomwill usually convey their requirementsand carrying them out will not be a

    problem.Traditionally, the requirements of

    the best man and maid or matron of

    honor has been to make sure thegroom and bride shows up at the wed-ding and to warm up those last minute

    cold feet. After all, a persons wed-

    ding day is high on the list of all timeimportant days in a persons life. The

    anticipation may be too much for somepeople to handle alone.

    Robbin Montero, of A Dream

    Wedding, outlines the role of the bestman and maid or matron of honor.The best man pays for his tuxedo and

    the maid of honor pays for her gown.The maid of honor and best man areeach also responsible for arranging for

    a gift from the other attendants. Eachone contacts the bridesmaids orgroomsmen and arranges for a special,

    joint wedding gift from that group. Itis the duty of the best man and maid ofhonor to collect the money from the

    attendants and choose a gift they knowtheir friends will love. More ofMonteros wedding tips can be read at

    www.foreverwed1.com

    Sara L. Ambarian wrote a guide forthe best man and maid or matron of

    honor. The following responsibilit ieshave traditionally been what has beenexpected of the second in command to

    the bride and groom and are whatAmbarian suggests.

    The Maid oF hoNor S reSPoNSiBiliTieS are:* Attending all fittings and appoint-

    ments for their clothing.

    * Attending pre-weddingparties/showers if at all possible (out

    of town maids-of-honor are exempt)* Hosting a shower for the bride

    (usually).

    * Helping to address invitations.* Helping the bride shop for the

    bridal gown and/or maids gowns and

    accessories.* Helping with decorations and

    other pre-wedding preparations.

    * Attending the rehearsal.* Fielding messages for her at

    home/ceremony site so she isnt inter-rupted for every little thing.

    * Protecting her privacy/quiet time,pre-ceremony if the bride values it.

    * Taking messages/gifts to thegroom so the bride and groom will notsee each other.

    * Helping the bride transport hergown and attire to the ceremony site.

    * Helping the bride's dress on her

    wedding day.* Helping distribute bouquets and

    boutonnieres or any other task to make

    things run smoother on the day of thewedding.

    * Standing with the bride at the altar.

    * Holding the grooms ring during

    the ceremony.* Greeting guests in the receiving line.

    * Making a toast, before or after, thebest man at the reception.

    * Dancing with the best man at the

    reception.

    The BeST MaN S reSPoNSiBiliTieS are:* Arranging a bachelor party or

    other party for the groom (or perhaps a

    party for the couple.)* Helping transport the grooms

    clothes and luggage to the

    ceremony/reception.* Helping the groom dresses and

    prepare for the ceremony.* Signing the license as a witn

    * Presenting the minister witfees before the ceremony starts.

    * Escorting the maid/matron o

    the church during the recessiona* Assisting the groom durin

    pre-wedding rituals, ceremon

    reception.* Helping pack and preparin

    get-away car and protecting it

    tampering.* Returning the tuxedos to the

    outlet.* Transporting the wedding g

    the couples home.* Proposing a toast to the cou

    the reception.* Dancing with the maid/matr

    honor at the reception.

    If there is a dollar dance at the tion, the best man and maid or mat

    honor are required to get it startdancing with the bride and grespectively. One of them will a

    for someone to collect the monegive the bounty to the couple whdance is over.

    Decorating the car and driving a

    town, with horns blaring, is also thmans responsibility. The ma

    matron of honor can help.Above all else, the best man and

    or matron of honor should enjoy

    selves and make sure they ensuBride and Groom enjoy their sday.

    Once the day is over, and the cembarks upon their married life togthe best man and maid or matr

    honor can relax and revel in the fathey did their part in the bride and gbeginning a beautiful life together

    Copyright 2011 Publishe

    Page 8

    Gloria Denholmowner/designer [email protected]

    989.350.8428

    WEDDING & EVENT PLANNING PHOTOGRAPHY

    W e d d i N g P l a N N e r

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    By Thomas myer

    So you cant fly to Rome for your

    honeymoon? Dont worry. There are alot of opportunities for a wonderful,

    memorable honeymoon right in yourown backyard.

    Consider the possibilities of a hon-eymoon within driving distance of

    your wedding.Whether you choose to explore a

    nearby big city, or take an adventurous

    trip into the country, your own regionhas a lot to offer and explore that many

    people overlook as honeymoon desti-nations. The best part is you wonthave to spend a small fortune on rental

    cars or airfare to get there.Think about a trip to a big city. Even

    large metropolitan areas have afford-

    able hotels and quaint bed and break-fast options. Most cities offer inexpen-

    sive museums, historical sites or site-seeing tours, and restaurants that thetourists dont even know about.Contact the visitors bureau for the

    state or city at which you would like tohoneymoon or look for them on theWeb by searching visitor bureau.

    Most bureaus offer a calendar ofevents, lists of special interest areas inthe city, and general information for

    visitors to their city.

    Although off-peak season travel willget you the best rates on accommoda-tions, you can still find a wide variety

    of budget hotels at very competitive

    rates throughout the year. Many hotelsoffer a free continental breakfast every

    morning, which can save you theexpense of dining out for one mealeach day. This can add up to big sav-

    ings by the end of your stay. Bed andbreakfast establishments, as the nameimplies, also offer this breakfast perk

    and usually offer a more homey feel-ing in your accommodations.

    For the least costly meals, ask the

    locals where they eat. Either the hotelstaff or proprietor of your bed and

    breakfast can recommend the best

    local eateries that tourists dont knowabout. Eating where the locals eat cansave you a lot of money over restau-

    rants in or near the tourist hot spots,where prices are often inflated becauseof their convenient location.

    Perhaps you want to spend your hon-eymoon in a quiet, secluded spot awayfrom the big cities. Look into moun-

    tain, beach, or desert areas of interestthat are off the beaten path. Thenational and state parks systems offer

    beautiful scenery in quiet settings at

    very reasonable prices. Hiking, watch-

    ing wildlife, and exploring historicalsites are just a few of the options avail-able when you honeymoon in these

    areas. Youll find the pace much slow-

    er, the air fresher, and youll feel your-selves relaxing after the hectic wed-

    ding events. On the Web, start yoursearch by checking out the NationalPark Service web site at

    http://www.nps.gov/parks.htmlWhichever affordable honeymoon

    you choose, plan ahead for the best

    availability and price. Give yourselvesplenty of time to explore the optionsfor site seeing and tours, and be sure to

    allow for enough leisure time withyour new spouse.

    Copyright 2010 Publishers-Edge

    aPril, 2011 ChoiCe PubliCations

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    By amanda Knoles

    Before you begin shopping forengagement and wedding rings, ask a

    jeweler to measure your fingers for theproper size. Jewelers can measure youwith a wide sizer for the wedding

    bands and a narrow sizer for the

    engagement ring. Keep in mind thereshould be some effort needed to pushthe correct sizer over your finger joint,

    but on the finger it should fit comfort-ably and not too tight. The ring shouldnever feel so loose that it might slide

    off when you wash your hands orreach for something on the floor. Yourfinger size may change with extremes

    in weather, medical conditions or eventhe time of day. It's a good idea to getmeasured a few times over several

    days or weeks before making a final

    selection. Rings can always be resizedto fit, but you'll save money if you get

    it right in the beginning.It's a good idea to seek out a local

    jewelry store with an established repu-

    tation. A jeweler who has been in busi-ness for many years will take the timeto show you a variety of quality rings

    and make sure you are a happy cus-

    tomer. Many couples find choosing

    engagement rings confusing becausethey know little about the variables indiamond quality and value. A patient

    jeweler will show you a variety ofstyles in different price ranges andexplain how carat, clarity, color and

    cut determine the cost.

    The most popular diamonds forengagement rings are square, oval,marquise or round shapes.

    Engagement diamonds are usuallypaired with white gold, yellow gold orplatinum bands. But there is great vari-

    ety in band styles. The mann

    which the diamond is placed oband is what the jeweler calls thting. Some settings place the dia

    high, somewhat away from the while others set the stone lower, to the band. A lower setting is eas

    Page 10

    Bay Area

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    wear on an everyday basis and offersmore protection for the stone.

    Many women like the idea of anoth-er gem such as a sapphire surrounded

    by accent diamonds. If you love a par-

    ticular stone, a jeweler can create aspecial ring to suit your needs.

    Wedding bands are available in

    many styles but generally are con-structed from three basic metals: gold,silver or platinum. The majority of

    couples choose 14K yellow or whitegold because it is extremely durablewhile still retaining beautiful color and

    shine. Rings made of 18K gold aremore costly, softer and more easilyscratched than 14K but they also

    exhibit a richer color. Gold that is 14Kis 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% othermetals such as silver or copper. Rings

    constructed of 18K gold are 75% puregold and 25% other metal alloys. It's agood idea to avoid 10K gold since it is

    only 42% gold and lacks the luster anddurability of 14 or 18K. Although 24karat gold is 100% gold it is generally

    considered too soft to use for rings.

    Silver is less inexpensive than goldand it is a much softer metal. It is

    prone to tarnishing and discoloration.However, if you are on a tight budget,there are many attractive silver rings to

    choose from.Platinum is deemed the most pre-

    cious metal and it is increasing in pop-

    ularity for wedding rings. It is muchheavier than gold. Small amounts of

    ruthenium and iridium are added toincrease the hardness of platinum. It

    has excellent durability and shine. Aring constructed of white platinum isan investment that will last a lifetime.

    Flat bands are a good choice forthose seeking an understated, simplestyle. They are constructed with a rec-

    tangular cross section with slightlyrounded edges. Half-round bands havea cross section that is flat on the inside

    and rounded on top. They have tradi-tional styling with a domed or raisedcenter. Sometime half-round bands

    have a beaded edge for decoration.Comfort-fit bands are heavier andmore expensive than other types. They

    are constructed with an oval cross sec-tion and have smooth, rounded edgesfor a more comfortable fit. They are

    also available with a mill-grainededge.

    Don't be afraid to ask questions

    about diamonds and wedding bands.Good salespeople enjoy sharing theirknowledge with customers. Trust your

    instincts. If a salesperson is pressuring

    you into buying a ring you can't afford,take your business elsewhere. If a ring

    seems too good to be true as far ascarat weight versus cost, it probablyhas flaws or may even be a fake. Don't

    feel embarrassed if you want to pur-chase simple gold bands. Many cou-

    ples prefer the classic look of plain

    gold bands and they never go out ofstyle. Copyright 2010 Publishers-Edge

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