A couple's marriage engagement period is both an exciting and stressful time because there are so many wedding preparations. From a wedding dress, to a cake, to a DJ, and more, the list may seem endless. And then there is the photographer.

Are you searching for a Chicago wedding photographer? Tired of flipping through the Yellow Pages and calling random numbers? Instead of depending on listings and directories, keep reading for some surefire strategies that will help you find the perfect Chicago photographer to capture your special day.

Chicago Wedding Shows

Pop in at a local annual or seasonal bridal show and you'll be overwhelmed by the displays and booths set up by local Chicago wedding photographers. When touring the exhibits at a bridal show, you can meet multiple photographers in one location, conduct informal interviews and review portfolios as you make the rounds.

Major bridal events in Chicago and throughout Illinois include Bridal Expo, which is massive, and smaller events like the Gown and Down, which is a cute, but expensive evening of wine-tasting and gown viewings and fittings.

Chicago Websites

If you still haven't found a Chicago wedding photographer, try the local Chicago websites that are dedicated to all things bridal. Many photographers pay a small fee to be included on the directory listings for these websites, meaning you can find their contact information and link to their web portfolio.

Two popular Chicago bridal sites include Chicago Bridal and the Chicago Style Weddings' magazine website. Both sites have forums and message boards, so you can ask other brides-to-be or past brides for their opinions or insights.

Word of Mouth

Rather than depending on web listings, wedding directories or the yellow pages, try the old-fashioned route - word-of-mouth. Ask your friends and family for stories about their experiences with their photographers and check around for recommendations.

After you pick the brains of your friends and family, try your other wedding service professionals. Because a DJ or caterer works with wedding photographers almost every weekend, they have a pretty good idea about who is good in the business and who is bad. So, ask them who they'd hire for their wedding and you'll get an insider's recommendation.

Flip Through the Weddings Edition of Chicago Style

Chicago Style magazine puts out a Wedding edition every 3 months. The magazine serves not only as a directory of local service providers, but also as a resource. With reviews of Chicago bridal salons, caterers and new venues, it's a great tool.

So, if you're looking for a fantastic Chicago wedding photographer, you could find him or her right inside the pages of Chicago Style Weddings. The magazine does numerous features on real, Chicago weddings. Flip through and get a real taste for the photos. Are there any you love? Take a look and see who the photographer is - you may have found your match.

What an exciting time for the jewelry and ring industry! Why? Because of the beginning of a new generation of rings; tungsten rings. These rings are one of the best quality of rings accessible.

Tungsten is an amazingly hard metal with a very high density and melting point. Because of these factors, tungsten rings are also quickly becoming the freshest and most thrilling wedding bands to purchase. Due to the strength of this metal, these tungsten rings are just about not possible to scratch with this metal being as hard as steel. Considering that it is four times harder than titanium but has a shine that will last for over half a century, it is the ultimate sturdy yet very chic item which is why so many are choosing: tungsten carbide rings.

Tungsten rings and tungsten carbide rings are sensibly priced and offer what other rings cannot. If they are made with carbide, which you need to be certain that they are, then they are hypoallergenic. If you purchase tungsten rings without carbide will oxidize creating irritations, rashes and redness to our finger and hand.

Many jewelers will offer a pledge with your purchase of their tungsten rings. Also take extra time when vital that you are very careful with this. But do not let that dissuade you. They are amazing to wear and you will get numerous comments as to what is on your finger. If you use the above information, you will have decades of happiness from your tungsten rings and tungsten carbide rings.

All tungsten rings are beautiful to the eye. They have a high gloss shine and are hard and strong. Considering that they are offer tungsten rings with the cobalt in them and not carbide or a nickel binder alloy. If you are looking at tungsten rings, which all look similar to the naked eye, you must make sure that you ask what the tungsten rings that they sell are made of. If they will not give you proof on paper then I would seek another jeweler. They are most likely selling their tungsten rings for tungsten carbide rings and they aren’t that at all.

Even though many jewelers will offer a pledge with your purchase of their tungsten rings and tungsten carbide rings, be very careful when choosing and sizing. Tungsten rings cannot be sized so it is important that you are very careful with this.

There are so many different kinds of weddings to choose from, whether it's a beautiful church wedding, or one held in the back of a large house, or even a wedding at some distant place. Of the three, the latter sorts of weddings are growing in popularity, as couples try to do things a little differently and hold their wedding in exotic vistas. If you're looking to do something a little different with your wedding, give a thought to combining your wedding with a cruise and enjoy your special day in a tropical locale. But in order to make such a wedding work, you'll need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.

The Good

The best part of a wedding cruise is that you're virtually guaranteed a wedding ceremony. Many cruise ships have chapels that a couple can be married in, and even offer wedding cruise packages for people interested in having their ceremony on the ship. Alternately, you can plan on stopping at the right port-of-call for a wedding on the beach. Either way, the wedding is going to be something memorable. Just as with ships, there are resorts in several Caribbean areas that will help you to plan your wedding to be perfect. If done right, you can combine your wedding and honeymoon, tying the knot underneath some palm trees before enjoying a wonderful, tropical vacation.

The Bad

Of course, not everything is perfect with a wedding cruise. While the wedding itself may be great, it can be difficult to plan the logistics for such a trip. To begin with, unless you or your close friends and family are rich, don't expect there to be a large ceremony. Wedding cruises are expensive, and it's a lot to ask of someone to pay the cost of a cruise to be a guest at your ceremony. Your best bet is to make your wedding as small as possible and to pay the way of the people you simply can't do without having there.

And even if you pay their way, you need to make sure everyone has a passport so they can travel out of the country, can get the time off work for a vacation, and can bring kids along or hire a babysitter. Remember, with a wedding cruise, your best bet is a small ceremony and a reception held sometime after you're home to ensure you have a celebration with everyone who wasn't able to make it. But if you're willing to do the planning – and some of the paying, a wedding cruise is a wonderful idea that will create a memorable experience.

When planning a wedding, there are a million different things to choose from, not only for the ceremony, but for the reception as well. One thing that no wedding reception would be complete without is the wedding cake itself.

The cake isn't just party food, but a traditional part of the wedding celebration, with the bride and groom cutting of the first piece of cake. You would want to consider your cake design well in advance of the wedding, from the kind of cake to the type of frosting to the wedding cake toppers you will want to use. Out of all these things, wedding cake toppers are the only ones you can do without, but adding them to your cake can be an expression of your personality.

What's a Topper?

Wedding cake toppers are the little bride and groom figures that are sometimes placed on top of a wedding cake, representing togetherness. Traditional wedding cake toppers depict the bride and groom in formal attire, and are generally the only part of the wedding cake that can be preserved through the years, apart from photographs of course. These toppers were the most popular in the 1950s, though many people still put them on cakes.

What Should I Pick?

These days, there are more designs for wedding cake toppers than the simple bride and groom, ranging from the silly to the elegant. If you decide to get wedding cake toppers, pick something that's appropriate for the style of your wedding reception and for you. If your wedding is a more formal affair, consider just the typical topper, or for a stylish touch, go for the first initials of you and your new spouse and make your wedding cake toppers look like a monogram. Simple wedding cake toppers such as this are also the best choice if you and your fiancée are having difficulty agreeing on toppers.

If your aim is for a more relaxed, informal reception, you may want to choose from humorous wedding cake toppers or something that appeals to common hobbies you and your new spouse share. Or, if you've picked a theme for your reception, look for wedding cake toppers that support that theme. Nothing adds a nice little touch to an aquatic-themed reception like wedding cake toppers depicting a pair of dolphins together, for example. Just be sure that your toppers will work with the design of cake you use; if you're still in doubt, let the artistry of your cake speak for itself and leave the toppers. Whether you choose to go with the toppers on not, just be sure to let your cake represent you on your special day.

The largest tradition in America for a wedding is the wedding bands. They are the first thing other women ask to see and it makes people excited just to see it. Now, most men are much less excited about rings because they are usually not impressed with a rock that cost too much. A wedding band to women means a new family with kids and the next chapter in life. Most men do not understand, in the beginning, the purpose or importance of the wedding bands. It doesn’t really matter unless one takes it off!

In all seriousness, the wedding band is a symbol of love and dedication to only one other. It means that two people love each other so much that they have pledged to stay together no matter what happens - no disease, no disability, nothing. There will be times when love doesn’t seem possible; two people will not get along every hour of every day. But love is different; if one temporarily doesn’t like their spouse, that feeling passes and love overcomes all.

Implications of Wedding Bands

There is nothing that is free and wedding bands are no different. A ring can cost a few hundred dollars or it can cost thousands. It doesn’t mean that a man loves a woman more or less because of the rings size or price. The biggest cost of a wedding band isn’t the money; the biggest cost is living up to the reputation that the diamond and gold stands for. These may seem like romantic, emotional words but they hold more truth than a million dollar ring which can be one of the reasons why a divorce is so messy.

Sometimes wedding bands are bought without two people understanding what it means. People would stay married if they knew exactly what they were saying to each other when they exchange rings. The wedding band creates a bond stronger than crazy glue. When people age and they have been tested many times during their marriage with all kinds of different problems, then the ring is showing its true color. It means that two people who become one are stronger together than the two parts they once were.

If a young couple has planned to be married, it would serve them well to understand the real cost of wearing the ring. The couple should not allow others to dictate things that a new couple should do. If people did what others expected, most marriages wouldn’t last.

Are you one of the [many] women with tattoos on their back, arms, neck, and even possibly chest? Not only are you one of those women, but are you about to get married? This isn't as big as a problem as most think, so don't you worry. If you love your tattoos, there is no reason to attempt to hide your tattoos under make up or clothing if you don't wish to do so, instead why not incorporate the tattoos into the wedding?

Lets say you have a colored tattooed visible to others if you are wearing a strapless gown [which happens to be the very gown you fell in love with, but are unsure of wearing it due to said tattoo(s)] why not add the colors into your wedding. A splash of yellow, red, purple, or black, could be added to the details of the dress, wedding accessories, flowers, or tables. It could even be as simple as offering wedding favors that go along with your tattoo(s). After all, as a bride there is no reason why a passion such as body art should be a problem to have the perfect, elegant wedding.

Tattoos have been a part of weddings before, leaving the bride riddled with henna tattoos on their hands and arms, so this could be another thing to add to your wedding- getting your bridesmaids to have henna tattoos [or they may already be tattooed]. There are so many different ideas to play along with while being a tattooed bride, the idea of wearing white may not be for you, or you want to expose your tattoos even more than normal. Not only to mention you may want to have a near traditional wedding with your husband to be. All these ideas can still be pulled off without worry! You as the bride could get your bridesmaids to wear dresses that match their tattoos, or even the colors of yours.

Buying a dress is never easy, but making it your own is half the fun, adding a little bit of trim [if so desired] can be the deal sealer when it comes to visible tattoos tying into it, and doing this to the bridesmaids dresses can make them feel more apart of the wedding than before with their own little details that don't have to match the other dresses.

Lets not forget about what the tattooed bride can do with color, most tattoo artists, and people who enjoy tattoos, have a sense of creativity about them that they may not have fully tapped into. A wedding is a perfectly good time to do this and explore your creativity. Colors are eye catching, play with the mind and senses, not to mention creating a whole new environment that wasn't there before.

Flowers that match the colors in the tattoo, or that are in contrast of the tattoo can really bring a setting together. What would be even more interesting is if the bride had flowers tattooed on her and she incorporated those flowers in the wedding.
So lets not worry our heads off if we have tattoos that can be seen.

It's just a minor bump in the road that can make your wedding more special and more a piece of you than ever. So take another look at your tattoos, if you have them, and see what you can make of it- and how to make it into a fantastic, one of the kind, wedding that no one will forget.

Most of the time home photography is sufficient to record what is important enough to be remembered. But once in a lifetime events such as weddings deserve the extra touch of a professional photographer. There are plenty to choose from. How do you know which one is right for your special day? Below are seven principles to aid you in that choice.

1. Availability. Is the day free for the photographer to be present all day? Also, most people can't afford hiring a distant photographer just because they're good. How close do they live to the place the ceremony and reception will take place?

2. Skill. What is the reputation of the photographer? Do you have testimonials available? Can you view samples of their work? After all, photographing a wedding is more than just clicking and shooting. They need good equipment and skill. What will be the pixel range of the digital pictures? The more pixels, in general, the larger the file size but also the better the resolution. When enlarged they will still have the same clarity.

3. Personality. Imagine yourself working with them for several hours, planning your special day. Would they be good to work with? Do you think they would be pushy or would they try to work with your budget and wishes? Would they want to run the show or would they fit into your plans? Would they work well with any children in the wedding party?

4. Price. Of course, money must be a consideration. Weddings are expensive enough, the average U.S. wedding now at more than $20,000. You want your special day recorded but you don't want to go broke doing it. Are the options you want available with this photographer within your budget?

5. Service. How soon will others be able to see the pictures? How soon will you receive the ordered prints? If enlargements were ordered, when would they be available? Since digital is instant, is the option of displaying ceremony pictures during the reception available?

6. Options. You should be offered a wide variety of options from which to choose. Do you want rehearsal pictures and, if so, is the photographer available? How many pictures do they promise? Do they bring their own lighting or rely on natural lighting? What creative suggestions do they offer? Can family and friends print pictures that are posted on their website?

7. Integrity. What is their reputation about keeping their promises and delivering what they say? Will they be in place when needed and stay as long as you expect? Will all the parts of the package you chose be delivered as you expect?

You won't want to reply on an amateur to photograph something as important as your wedding. If you follow these principles, you will probably not be disappointed with the person you choose.

Del Haven Studio is the location of a proven Virginia Beach photographer who is experienced in expertly capturing all the amazing memories of weddings. Click the links to visit the site today and see slideshows of their work as a Virginia Beach wedding photographer, in corporate settings, and with personal or family portraits.

When we think of platinum wedding rings we often accurate.

Platinum, generally speaking, is 95% pure and does not tarnish or fade, so it remains the same as when you purchased it; for a lifetime. They are also hypoallergenic so they are idyllic for anyone’s skin situation and chemical makeup.

Platinum wedding bands have a brilliant, white luster that is expressed only by this metal. Because of that exceptional shine, diamonds reflect beautifully in every setting whether the setting is conservative or ornate.

The history of platinum wedding bands is very fascinating. The processing of platinum began in Ancient Egypt where rare metals and gems were used to adorn the living quarters of ancient rulers. Platinum was the metal of choice because of its unique beauty and resiliency.
Interestingly enough, in 1940, during World War II, it was barred, and you could not use platinum in jewelry and all production of it for this purpose ceased. By the 1980’s, the ban was lifted and once again platinum quickly became the most sought after metal of choice amongst those who love its look and the status it brings to those who wear it.

Platinum wedding bands are made with various alloys. Those made with ruthenium are much more resilient than those made with cobalt. But whichever one you choose, it will give you a beautiful shine and precious look that will cause people to question you about your platinum wedding rings.

Some people feel that white gold is very similar to platinum, but that is nowhere near the truth. White gold is actually yellow gold mixed with a specific mixture of alloys that make the yellow look a whitish color. Platinum wedding rings are naturally white and as already stated, are much harder and more durable than white gold.

Platinum wedding bands are much heavier than either yellow or white gold by just about 60% more. Most people love that heavy, smooth feeling on their hand; it feels like it has a great deal of worth; and it does.

Gold has always been announced as the metal of choice. Many are really surprised that platinum is more expensive than gold.

Apparently, one of the reasons for this is that is more rare than gold, but also it has to do with the amount of platinum that has to be mined to obtain a small amount.

To attain one ounce of platinum, manufacturers have to mine 10 tons of ore. In contrast, they have to mine 4 tons of gold to attain one ounce. Therefore, because it is found less than gold and it takes much more to produce platinum that you can use for your platinum wedding rings, the consumer pays more when purchasing it.

Platinum has always been a popular metal. There is very little platinum found in the world with only a few places it is mined.

When you acquire platinum wedding rings, understand that you are wearing a metal that is 30 times rarer than gold. It has been said that if all the platinum in the world were poured into an Olympic sized swimming pool and you stood in it, it would only be ankle deep.
Platinum wedding rings and platinum wedding bands are something that is rare, beautiful and will only rise in value. Enjoy this precious and rare bit of the Earth on your finger today. Check out some designer platinum wedding rings now!

A wedding planner guide is necessary to help take the stress out of planning your wedding. Every bride wants her special day to go as smooth as silk but let's face it, unexpected things may happen. There are a huge amount of details that make up every wedding-big or small.

A timeline of what you will need to do is essential in your wedding organization. The further away your date is the better off you will be. A year before the date is a good place to begin your planning. However, if you don't have that much time you might think about hiring a wedding consultant to help out.

The last thing any bride or groom wants to happen is a catastrophe on their wedding day. Like photographers who omit family members from their photos or caterers who show up late and unprepared or, worse yet, they don't show up at all.

I went to a close friend's wedding reception and watched as the groom came to the gift table and started going through the envelopes. To his horror, he had forgotten that he had to furnish tips to many of the service people at the reception. He was horrified, to say the least, that he had to dip into the gifts that he was going to use for his honeymoon.

Today's bride and groom are, for the most part, young and have little experience when they begin a first marriage. For my friend, it was upsetting that he had spent so much money on his wedding reception and it didn't even cover everything. He certainly would have benefited from using a wedding planner guide that told him to get all his contracts in writing and know exactly what is included.

That is why it is essential to stay organized while planning the most cherished day of your life. Think about how disheartened it would make you feel to not have any photographs of your wedding to look back on.

The wedding business is a huge money making industry, but that doesn't mean you have to cash in the farm to pay for yours. If you choose a wedding date that is a minimum of one year in the future, you can start saving money on your current bills and give up those expensive dates at restaurants.

There is power in numbers. Wedding couples who network can often negotiate a better deal with vendors. To help keep you on your time line you should always stick to your wedding planner guide.

Planning a wedding on a small budget these days can be a truly daunting task for the newly engaged couple. Thoughts of how to have the perfect wedding day without going over budget will soon follow the marriage proposal. Scaling down the costs while still letting the bride have the type of wedding day she has dreamt about all her life do not usually go well together.

The price of your wedding can skyrocket when the bride and groom to be begin to discuss their perfect wedding. With some ingenuity and cost cutting planning it doesn't have to break the bank.

There are some amazing ways of keeping within your wedding budget, including your wedding invitations, flower arrangements, the reception and yes, even the most important investment-your wedding dress. Vendors hear the word wedding and immediately over charge you. You can reduce these costs without cutting out those things that matter most to you.

When and where to have your wedding reception will also have an effect on all the other purchases involved, such as the price of catering and floral arrangements. The wedding reception is probably your most expensive piece of the pie, so if you start looking for places that aren't strictly used for weddings then you will be able to slash a huge amount of your budget. The time of year and day of the week also play a part in costs. Another savings would be to really think about if you need a wedding planner to do the work for you. It's your wedding so why not enjoy the planning.

Another point in planning a wedding on a small budget is the purchase of your wedding dress. As the bride, you have already envisioned your perfect wedding dress. One idea is to find a trusted local seamstress who can create the dress from your description. Then you remove the cost of brand names, alteration and delivery charges. Maybe the mother of the bride has been saving her dress to pass on and you can then just get it altered or updated to fit your style.

There are many different things you can do while planning your wedding and still keep to a smaller budget. And the best part is you can still have a beautiful wedding day that your guests will remember for many years. Planning a wedding on a small budget requires communication between the bride and groom and all their family to stay on track.