How To Deal With Jealous People

Your engagement should be one of the happiest times of your life, and something those around you are happy about as well. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case. Sometimes a person’s reaction to an engagement is jealousy, and this can make a happy time a lot less pleasant. Here are some ways to cope.

First, try and understand where the jealous person’s feelings are coming from. Have they recently ended a relationship, or perhaps they are in one that isn’t doing well or not in one at all and wish they were? If this is the case, realize that their jealousy is a reflection of their own unhappiness and don‘t take it personally. Be as understanding and supportive as you can. When you are around them, minimize the wedding talk and be sure to show plenty of interest in how they are doing.

Another cause of jealousy is a simple fear that your impending marriage may mean you won’t have time for them anymore. Again, try to be understanding and reassuring, and take time out of the wedding planning to do simple things like going out to lunch, seeing a movie, shopping, or just hanging out. This will let your pals know their friendship is still important to you!

There is another kind of jealousy that is particularly hard to deal with-the kind borne out of simple selfishness or worse. I’m talking about the ex who’s jealous that you’re marrying someone else instead of them or the co-worker who’s had an intense secret crush on you and can’t handle their disappointment. This kind of jealousy is rooted in a deep insecurity and inability to handle rejection, and can be dangerous. Instead of trying to help such individuals it is advised to simply avoid them all costs. If you are in a situation like this and feel unsafe, listen to your instincts! Contact the police and take out a restraining order if necessary. If it’s a co-worker causing the problem, don’t hesitate to speak to your company’s human resources department. This is one time when you shouldn’t be worried about hurt feelings-your safety takes priority!

Have you had to deal with jealous people since you’ve been engaged? Tell us about it and how you dealt!

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Congratulations! You’re engaged! Of course you want to celebrate, and what better way than with an engagement party? If you want one, here are a few things you should know:

Hosting: Traditionally the bride’s family hosts it, but really just about anyone can, even the bride and groom themselves!

Planning: An engagement party should be held within three months of the engagement itself. Only invite those that will also be invited to the wedding(this rule holds true for all pre-wedding celebrations as well). When deciding on a place and theme for the party, keep in mind that an engagement party is supposed to serve as the first step in the blending of the two families, so you’ll want to be sure both sides are comfortable with your plans. Aside from that, anything goes, from an elegant black tie cocktail party to a backyard barbecue!

Gifts: Gifts are not required at an engagement party so you shouldn’t expect them. It’s fine to register as soon as you get engaged, but don’t put any registry info in the invitations. Save it for your bridal shower! If some guests do bring gifts, thank them and then put them aside until later. Don’t open them until after the party, otherwise you risk making those who didn’t give you one feel bad. If you do choose to register early and people ask for your registry info, it’s fine to give it to them. Just make sure you’ve registered for a selection of low and mid priced items to make it easy on your guests.

Finally, relax and remember this is supposed to be a fun and relaxed event. If you have grand visions for a lavish celebration, take a step back and relax. You’ve still got a wedding to plan, remember? You don’t want to accidently upstage the main event! So reign in those plans and save some of that excitement-you’ve got many more celebrations and some of the best times of your life ahead of you!

Did you have an engagement party? Tell us about it! We didn’t have one, and I wish we’d had. My in-laws gave us new living room furniture instead, which was wonderful and much appreciated, but I still wish we’d have had the chance to celebrate our long awaited engagement. Alas, my parents couldn’t afford to throw us one and neither could we. This brings me to an important point-if you don’t have an engagement party, please don’t feel bad. They aren’t mandatory, and there will be plenty of other opportunities to celebrate, I promise!

 Photos of Jenna Bush’s wedding were released yesterday and as you can see her wedding was very relaxed and low key. No glitz and glamour here folks! Her dress was a simple embroidered organza sheath with a small chapel train and she wore her hair down with no veil.The groom wore a smart dark blue suit with a light blue tie, and her 14 bridesmaids wore dresses in the various colors of Texas wildflowers. They swapped vows in front of a stone altar and cross made out of Texas limestone at the edge of the lake on the Bush family ranch in Crawford Texas.

 ”Our little girl, Jenna, married a really good guy, Henry Hager,” Bush said, standing next to his wife, Laura, at an airport in Waco, Texas, where he boarded Air Force One for his flight back to Washington. “The wedding was spectacular. It’s just - it’s all we could have hoped for. “The weather cooperated nicely,” Bush said about the wedding at his 1,600-acre Texas ranch. “Just as the vows were exchanged, the sun set over our lake, and it was just a special day and a wonderful day, and we’re mighty blessed.”

While both of Ronald Reagan’s daughters were married while he was in office, the wedding most are comparing the Bush one to is the lavish 1971 wedding of Tricia Nixon, who was married in the White House Rose Garden in front of 400 guests and the world as the ceremony was broadcast live on television. Tricia is widely regarded as the most beautiful of the 22 “White House Brides”.

Jenna on the other hand quickly vetoed the idea of a White House wedding was not for her and even joked that she didn’t feel she was glamorous enough for one. Looking at the pictures I think she made a great choice. The backdrop was spectacular and cozy at the same time-and that altar and cross are sure to become a treasured family heirloom for years to come.

Take a look at the wedding photos and let me know what you think!

Your wedding invitation and annoucements will become treasured keepsakes. Here is a great video showcasing lots of beautiful ideas!

Jenna Bush, daughter of our current president, George Bush, and granddaughter of another, President George H.W. Bush, was married on Saturday in a low key and private ceremony on her father’s ranch in Texas. The couple choose the ranch over a glitzy, high profile White House wedding. The bride wore a beaded Oscar de la Renta gown and her groom a dark blue suit. They exchanged vows in a lakeside ceremony. The bride’s twin sister Barbara was her maid of honor and she had 14 bridesmaids.

This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband, Henry,” Bush said in his Saturday radio address. “It’s also a special time for Laura who this Mother’s Day weekend will watch a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle.”

The couple hosted 200 guests at an outdoor reception that included live music from a 10 piece band. The bride and her father danced to “You Are So Beautiful” and the happy couple danced their first dance as husband and wife to “Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes” There were no cameras or helicopters full of paparazzi thanks to an airspace restriction around the ranch. Jenna is the 22nd child of a president to be married while their father is in office. Perhaps the most famous presidential wedding is that of Trisha Nixon, who was married in the White House Rose Garden in 1971. The ceremony was broadcast live around the world.

“All of them are different. This one really reflects the personality of both Jenna and the George W. Bush family,” said Doug Wead, a former aide to President George H.W. Bush and author of a book on presidents’ kin. “If they’d have gone on TV, the wedding would have been shown all over the world and Jenna Bush would have been an international celebrity — and she would have been a target. They’re preparing the transition to private life and they’re not particularly interested in seeing Jenna Bush become a huge celebrity.”

White House officials say President Bush and his wife Laura may release photos of the wedding tomorrow but otherwise intend to keep the event as private as possible.

The perfect wedding involves many different vendors-there’s the florist, the cake decorator, the caterer, the photographer, the DJ, the limo driver, and more. As you go about find the right ones for you, be sure to keep these questions in mind!
1. Do you have a portfolio? This is especially important for photographers and florists. Good ones will always have an up to date collection of their work. If all the grooms in a photographer’s portfolio are wearing powder blue tuxes, run, don’t walk away!

2. Do you have references? Good vendors will always welcome you to contact previous clients. If they hesitate be suspicious.

3. What payment methods do you take? It’s best to pay with a credit card as this protects you if things go wrong. Be wary of vendors that insist on cash only. Along with payment methods you should also ask about their deposit and refund policies.

4. Will you be the one doing my wedding or will you send an assistant? This is a very important question! If they tell you an assistant or associate will be working your wedding, make sure they are just as qualified. I’ve heard many horror stories of clueless assistants being sent to do weddings and completely ruining things.

5. What will happen if it rains? This is an important question to ask your photographer, caterer, and venue manager, if your venue is an outdoor one. Good photographers will have a studio back up or know of some beautiful indoor attractions to take your pictures at.

6. Can I provide a list of pictures I’d like/songs I don’t like? Again, good vendors will welcome your requests. If there is a special family member you’d like photos of or if you just can’t stand the Electric Slide, be sure to speak up!

7. What time will you arrive/leave? Again, an important question. Be sure to give your vendors a copy of your time line when you ask for a quote. This will help you avoid any surprise overtime charges at the end of the day!
Have a question to add to the list or just a question in general? Leave a comment and let us know!

Trying to find the perfect look for your special day? It’s not easy, especially if you’re not used to wearing lots of makeup. Here’s a great video showing how to achieve a classic and beautiful bridal look. Let me know what you think!

There was a time when only a live band would do for a wedding. These days, most couples opt for a DJ. If this is what you’re doing, here are some important tips to make sure you find the right one for you.

To find one, start by asking recently married friends and relatives. Wedding shows are also a good place to check out DJ’s because many of them actually put on demos there. Once you’ve got a list of potentials, make your appointments. Aside from price lists and services offered, be sure to find out just what kind of music library they have, how they feel about having music provided to them, and what they expect in terms of breaks and meals. (Most vendors will expect to be fed, and it’s the right thing to do). Finally, ask fore references, or even better, find out if you can slip into a wedding they’re working to see how they work. Above all, make sure you are comfortable communicating with them and do so often, especially when the big day draws near. I can not tell you how important that is.

We chose our DJ based on the recommendations of a relative. When we met with him he seemed great. He promised to be in touch a month or so before our wedding day and would work with us on our play list then. Like most brides, I got busy with the planning and didn’t think much about it until I suddenly realized my wedding was three weeks away and we hadn’t heard from him. We did get in touch and give him the list of songs for our introduction, special dances, and a CD with some special songs we wanted played, and he said all was fine. Imagine my shock when we arrived at our reception and he immediately informs us the CD we gave him didn’t work. Turns out he didn’t bother to test it ahead of time. We had to scramble to pick new songs. That was only the beginning. He cut off our first dance after just a few minutes, waited until the reception was half over (ignoring our repeated requests to do them sooner) before doing the parent dances and cut those off abruptly midway through, completely ignored our “please play” and “please do not play” lists, and when our cake cutting wasn’t going along fast enough for him, picked up a knife, hacked into our cake and shoved the piece at us! We were mortified. Thankfully we have great families who were understanding and managed to have a great time anyway, but it was a bit painful to have our carefully planned music ruined. This is why it is so important to communicate with your vendors early and often.

We assumed he’d know we wanted the songs played in their entirety but obviously we were wrong. We also assumed he’d test the CD we gave him ahead of time (it worked for us, oddly enough). Assuming is the worst thing to do, especially on a day as important as your wedding day! Do you have a vendor horror story? Please share!

Your engagement is an exciting time. There’s so much to do! These days many couples put together a wedding website to share their planning with friends and family. Not only is it fun, it can be incredibly useful. When I was planning my wedding we used our wedding website to give our out of town guests all the info they needed. We had maps and directions to our venues, hotel info, lists of local restaurants, tourist attractions, and more. Our guests really appreciated it. We also used it to show off our engagement pictures, share our registry info, and share a little bit about ourselves and how we met. It was a huge hit.

Speaking of registries, these days many couples are forgoing them and asking for donations to their favorite charity instead. If this is something you’d like to do, and you and your groom are animal lovers, the ASPCA has a great new way to combine your wedding website with your love of our furry friends! They now offer wedding pages! You can include your wedding plans, the story of how you met, or whatever you like, and you can add your favorite picture. Your friends and family can visit and sign your guest book and make donations, as the page can also be used to raise money for the ASPCA. I think it’s a great idea.

Not an animal lover? You can do the same with most any charity of your choice. When you set up your website, simply put the charity’s information where you would normally list registry info, along with a note explaining you and your groom are requesting donations rather than gifts. Most of your guests will probably be thrilled to not have to shop for, wrap and transport a gift. Or, if you are one of those young couples that truly needs help getting started, consider signing up with the I Do Foundation. This foundation has a list of participating stores. Register at one or more of them, and every time a gift is purchased for you, a percentage of the cost will be donated to several charities. Another great way to give back- and what better way to celebrate the joy of your marriage by giving a little away for those less fortunate? It’s a win-win situation.

Did you do something like this for your wedding, or are you planning to? Tell us about it and how it turned out. We love happy endings!

Renaissance festivals are becoming more popular with people these days. Places that did not have them before are getting one near them and people attend them on a regular basis. Weddings at such venues are becoming increasingly popular as well. Having a Renaissance wedding at a festival is a great way to get your wedding ceremony and reception site in one location.

A wedding at a Renaissance festival can help cut down on costs and give your guests something to do before or after your wedding. This is because many festivals have two time slots available during their open days for weddings. This gives more brides a chance to get married in an unusual atmosphere and the Renaissance festival makes more money. Any festival that offers wedding packages will have at least two available. Some have more packages than that. A few have several to chose from, starting at a very basic package all the way to a full scale princess style wedding.

Renaissance wedding packages vary from festival to festival in price and what is included. The festival where I got married had three packages at the time, they now only have two. I have seen some festivals that only offer a basic and premium package. The price difference can be minimal to very expensive, depending on how you view things.

Wedding packages include at the very least tickets to the festival and something special for the bride and groom. Some festivals give gifts for the wedding parties such as head wreaths for the bridesmaids and pouches for the groomsmen. Others give special certificates to the bride and groom only. Depending on the site you can also get meal coupons for the wedding party and guests at the Renaissance festival. I have even seen one festival that had a package option where the wedding could be held in their castle with a full meal served by caterers in Renaissance gear. This was an extremely nice package but very expensive.

You do have to have a smaller wedding with Renaissance festivals. Packages don’t normally include many tickets for all guests you will have. Although you can purchase additional tickets at a reduced rate, depending on how many people you invite this can get extremely expensive and make the all inclusive Renaissance site more expensive than a standard wedding. But you can always check to see if the festival will let you trade in things in the package you do not want or need for additional tickets instead. My wedding was held onsite at a local festival but our reception was offsite. So we traded in the value of the reception tickets, flowers, and champagne for additional entrance tickets for guests.

Submitted by: Diane