Think about it. How many couples do you know who have struggled with finances and even divorced over them? To protect yourselves from joining the statistics of those who split over money, you have to learn how to discuss finances openly and honestly with your soon-to-be spouse.

Money is generally considered a taboo topic. It’s not something discussed in polite conversation, according to our social norms. But your future spouse is a crucial exception to this unwritten rule. Maybe you don’t know where to start. Or maybe you are like me and are embarrassed about how you have handled your finances in the past. Maybe you have bad credit; your spouse deserves to know because your rating can affect his.

There are countless reasons to avoid the topic, but you have one very vital incentive to broach the subject: Your marriage’s stability may very well depend on your ability to talk these things out. Communication is the foundation of handling financial issues, as well as any other challenges you’ll face as a team.

When I think back in my own family and friends, I know of several who would have benefited from guidance from a counselor who was also a financial expert. If they had someone outside of their immediate circle of friends considering their best financial interests, someone who provided an unbiased opinion, they would more than likely be together today.

I recently interviewed Sherry Julius, a woman whose first marriage ended in divorce mostly due to money problems. She told me that if she’d entered that marriage with the financial know-how and communication skills covered in my new program, “The Debt Stops at the Altar,” she thinks things might have worked out differently. She said she would’ve known what to do when money crises arose and how to work with her partner to get through them rather than fight her way out. Sherry said, “I know for myself, this is going to help so many couples, because it is helping me even in my second marriage.”

Whether this is your first marriage or you have been married 20 years, financial challenges arise at different stages. Your emotions can cloud your judgment in difficult situations, especially if things center on the person you love most. Let me share this: When we make decisions based on emotions, it often leads to further damage and conflict. We usually do not see the long term clearly or take the time to consider the consequences of our actions when our emotions are too strong. We just act out of pain, frustration and sometimes even pressure. That starts a vicious cycle of further pain and frustration.

Take the time to consider the relationship you want, the marriage you want for a lifetime and how you’re going to create that. If you are getting 30 minutes or one hour of counseling on finances during pre-marital counseling, unless you’re a financial professional, that’s probably not enough. You need more to protect your marriage and foster a healthy dialog with your spouse over a topic that causes strife and stress for so many of us.

In case you think about it as a disgrace to have a wedding without the tiny people present, but require to keep away from any tantrums, then look in to various ways of entertaining children at weddings. An entertained kid is a happy kid. Lots of of the forms of children’s entertainment available for weddings are also fun for the grown-ups (my personal favourite has to be Giant Jenga!) & will make for some hilarious wedding photographs. This, & similar lawn-games can be bought, or hired from various entertainment companies. A quick web search ought to lead you in the right direction. Wedding entertainers can also help to keep the tiny ones happy. Balloon sculptors & magicians are the most common choice.

Wedding-in-Kent.co.uk - About the Author:
Wedding-in-Kent.co.uk has more information about Entertaining Children at weddings and other wedding tips and advice for those couples planning on getting married in Kent.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/entertaining-children-at-weddings-2783006.html#ixzz0wTnHHQ00
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

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WeddingChicago.com

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The ever popular jewelry designer, Meg Lammers returns again to share her latest collection of sparkly gems.

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Alison Rodriguez
Wedding Chicago, Inc.
http://www.weddingchicago.com
Ph:  (773) 456-8233

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WeddingChicago.com
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Ph:  (773) 456-8233

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Now, if parents choose to keep their children home instead of bringing them to your event, then so be it!  It’s one less thing that you have to worry about.  Brides will often arrange for a babysitter to watch children during the wedding reception.  A wedding without young children will save you money, time and worry. 

The most important thing is to have fun.  This is a crazy time - swine flu anxiety, bad economy, crazy balloon boy hoaxes - so might as well enjoy your day to the fullest.

Have a great one!

Alison Rodriguez
WeddingChicago.com

Many museums rent out their spaces for weddings and other events. And, if you think having your wedding at a museum would be boring, think again. Consider the attractions your guests would be surrounded by at some of the following museums:

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois

For a unique wedding venue in Chicago, consider the Museum of Science and Industry, located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. The Museum of Science and Industry has so much to offer that it’s hard to know where to begin. You have your choice of numerous unique spaces within the Museum, such as the U-505 Exhibit, where your guests will have the opportunity to dine alongside a 252 ft. submarine. But not any submarine. This submarine was the only German submarine captured during WWII. Seating capacity is 120 guests.

Another space within the Museum is the Rotunda, which is a spectacular hall of marble, featuring a 120-ft. domed ceiling. The seated capacity in the Rotunda is 800 guests.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago also has several themed venues within their space which would make any wedding or reception stand out. These include “The Bronzeville Blues Club” with a theme of Chicago’s musical roots. Entering through the Rotunda, guests will enter the “Bronzeville Blues Club” awash in candles and blue lighting; dine on Creole inspired hors d’oeuvres, while enjoying the sounds of an authentic Blues Trio.

Or, perhaps you’d like to try the “Hollywood Canteen” - a recreation of The Hollywood Canteen, which opened its doors in 1942, and quickly became a hot spot for servicemen and Hollywood’s biggest names. Your guests will be welcomed into this recreation by a long red carpet, lined with red velvet ropes.

The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

Located in Central Phoenix, the Heard Museum has been a Phoenix institution for more than 75 years. Encompassing more than 130,000 square feet of gallery and education space, the Heard Museum has one of the finest collections of Native American art and cultural exhibits. And, the exhibits aren’t the only things worth seeing at the Heard; there’s also the interesting architecture and grounds, which include arched walkways, brick patios and lovely courtyards, which serve as picturesque backdrops for your wedding photos.

The Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts

The Higgins Armory Museum is the only museum in the Western Hemisphere devoted to arms and armor, housed in an Art Deco building with a vaulted Medieval Great Hall. Talk about a unique wedding venue! How many people have their wedding amid suits of armor from the Renaissance?

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida

This tropical wedding venue is historic as well as beautiful. You can get married on a bridge overlooking a koi pond, then provide your guests with a private tour of Ernest Hemingway’s home. For guests who cannot attend, they can watch the wedding on the Museum’s live web cam.

The Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newberry Park, California

For those history buffs who love stagecoaches and the American pioneer period, the Stagecoach Inn Museum is for you. Located off the 101 Freeway halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the Stagecoach Inn has a rather long history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is actually a replica of the original Stagecoach Inn built in 1876, as well as spacious grounds which feature replicas of a pioneer home, a Spanish-Mexican adobe and a Chumash dwelling. Live oak trees, flower gardens, wooded areas and rose arbor grace the lawns.

Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia

The Poe Museum is dedicated to, who else, Edgar Allan Poe, the American author of short stories, detective fiction, poetry and science fiction. Imagine the theme wedding one could have by getting married at the Poe Museum! Treat your guests to a wedding and reception in Poe’s Enchanted Garden, which can accommodate up to 100 guests. The garden was inspired by one of his poems, “To One in Paradise.”

Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

If the two of you are into football, why not consider the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Instead of a bouquet, the bride can toss a football. Well, it’s just an idea.

No matter where you live there is bound to be a museum near you that hosts weddings. Museums offer a truly unique venue which your guests will remember years after the wedding. The museums can be historical, fun, or downright odd and you’re sure to find one which suits your tastes. Now, if only the Spam Museum would offer weddings.... Oh, well, one can’t have everything.

About the Author

Shari Hearn is a writer and website creator. Go to her websites and learn more about planning a wedding, destination weddings, and wedding engagement rings.

Your monogram can be a combination of letters, swirls, and various design elements - it all depends on your personal sense of style and the feel of your wedding day. It is essentially a “logo” for your wedding so make it as funky, elegant, classic, or fun as you are. If you’re getting married at a unique location, such as a beach, consider integrating a sea shell or palm tree in to your monogram.

A monogram is typically made up of three letters: the bride’s first name initial, the groom’s first name initial, and the first letter of their shared last name. For example, the monogram of Sarah and Brendon Chase would be S-C-B. You may choose to use a variation of block and cursive letters. Try experimenting with various size and types of fonts. For the example above, you may choose to make the C bold and prominent while the other two letters are slightly more delicate.

Typically, the bride’s first initial comes first. If the bride is choosing to keep her own last name, you may consider a four-letter monogram. Or, to simplify things, just use your first initials and have a trendy, simple two-letter monogram.

You and your fiancé may be able to create your own monogram, or visit a graphic designer who can create something unique for you. There are also a number of web sites that specialize in creating monograms. Or, maybe a friend in the wedding party has an flare with graphic design and font styles. If so, they will probably be pleased to add their signature touch to your wedding.

Let Your Monogram Shine

Now that you’ve created a monogram you love, you can work on thinking of creative ways to enhance your wedding day. Most couples with monograms decide to include their work of art on all written communications, so consider adding it to your invitations, envelopes, reply cards, and programs. You can even get a stamp or a gold seal made out of your emblem for a touch of old-world class.

You can create an entire theme around your motif by having it printed on everything from napkins to table cloths. Your baker can create a stunning cake with your monogram as part of the design. Include your monogram on your guest book, and even have it adorn your ribbon decorations.

Consider special ordering a cake topper designed just for you, or using your monogram to embellish gifts for the guests, such as cookies, wine bottles, or personalized jellies. You can take this theme as far as you like - or keep it more understated by reserving monogram use for only a few key items like a personalized wedding tote.

After The Wedding

Your monogram can become a family crest of sorts - consider giving your partner a bathrobe with your new family monogram embroidered on the pocket as a wedding or anniversary gift. Your monogram can grow with you over the years - and one day may even include a few more names.

About the Author

Mary W. Brophy is a writer, serial entrepreneur and the creative force behind a new handbag trend - personal logo bags. Her company, Bizz Bag, Inc., gives fashion savvy brides ways to display their monogram in custom prints on luxury wedding totes. For our best personalized gift idea for the bride, bridesmaids or maid of honor, visit http://www.BizzBag.com/Bridal

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