February 29.... Wedding

I am so excited to be having a February wedding. I would like to have my wedding on 2/29/2012. I just love the idea of a winter wedding, with all of your wedding pictures including snow :)

 February is such a rare month for weddings/anniversaries/birthdays it's so awesome I love it! Also, i've heard the prices are lower, so why would anyone want to go for something cliché

Try something different from everyone else, that is my advice for everyone! I'm sure i'll be one of the only people who is getting married in February 29, just because it's a very original idea - but I just love Feb…. Sahsa Abdullah

Having a New Years Eve Wedding

Here are some ideas to make it as festive and memorable as possible!

There cannot be a more a romantic way to ring in a new year than with a celebration of marriage! We put together some ideas and tips to help plan your New Years Eve Wedding.
Attire:
Have your guests wear their most elegant attire by making it a special black tie event. The bride would look beautiful wearing a Long Satin Gown with shimmering sequins and a glittery tiara. The bridesmaids can wear long black velvet gowns and the groomsmen in all black tuxedos.

Flowers:

All red roses are an elegant choice for a black tie event, you can also mix in some white roses too.

Invitations:

Send out "save the date" cards as soon as you know the date, and send out your invites three months in advance instead of two just to give your guests plenty of time since it is a holiday.
For the invitation style, choose white and gold or white and silver. Also to make the wording special by adding a phrase like, "A new year, a new beginning" or "A countdown to the rest of our lives"

Favors:

Small bottles of champagne with personalized labels, chocolate covered fortune cookies with a new years fortune, a cd with your favorite hits from the past year with a personalized label, bells with a label that says "ring in the new year with your names", have someone take each guests instant photo as they arrive and place the photo in a personalized frame for them to take home with them when they leave.

Colors:

New years eve colors are typically black and silver or gold and silver.

Decorations:

To make a festive atmosphere, place noise makers , Party hats , candles, and confetti on the tables. Place balloons, white lights, and glittery snowflakes throughout. Place a large clock right behind the DJ to countdown, or have a large screen tv to watch the ball drop! Also, place balloons in netting over the dancefloor to drop down at the stroke of midnight.

Time:

Try to make it a late event, starting around 8:00pm. You want your guests to stay through the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year!

Food:

If you decide to serve a full meal, remind guests to have something light to eat before the event since they will be eating dinner later than usual(if your event starts at 8PM), but let them know you will be serving a full meal and to come hungry!

You may want to skip having a full meal and opt for hot appetizers offered throughout the night. You can serve hot wings, chicken/beef sticks, scallops and bacon, etc. Or, you can have stations set up so guests can help themselves.

Be sure to have plenty of coffee available throughout the night, or consider a coffee station when serving dessert.

These are just a few ideas to make your New Years Eve wedding special, but there are so many more possibilities to use your own creativity to add something unique to your special day.

WEDDING CHECKLIST - 3 Months To Countdown

Hall Arrangements and DécorHave you chosen the place of ceremony and reception hall? Have you made bookings? If you have not,
 

DO IT NOW!Have you ordered the flowers and décor? Have you booked the caterer? Have you booked the band? If you are having it in hotel, have you made the booking and made deposit? Have you chosen the menu? Have you booked the wedding car? Have you this and have you that – the list is endless. If not

 

DO IT NOWHave you ordered the groom and bride attire? What about the pageboy, bridesmaid, bestman, flower boys? Have you bought the jewellery? Shoes? Have you made reservations for the Honeymoon? In the first place you decided where you would like to go? Do not wait!!!

 

1 Month To CountdownYou only have one more month to the wedding. In other words, it is only four weeks. In other words still, you have only 28 days. Do you have everything in place? Have you sent out all your invitations? What? You have not finalised your guest list? Do you think everybody has nothing better to do than wait for you to get married?
You had better send out your invitations now and give enough time for your invitees to schedule their time.
Oh Yes! One more thing! Do not waste your time with `RSVP' Nobody bothers to reply – not in this country anyway. It would be best to follow up by phone calls to every of your invitees and confirm with them. Only then will you able to finalise your guest list and make all arrangements.
Order the Wedding Cake now!
Do your final fitting for your gown and other attire, both the bride and groom and their attendants.
Do you need to arrange for lodging for outstation guests? DO IT NOW!
 
2 Weeks to Countdown - Make arrangements for the marriage licence and registration. Do not goof on this one. There are people who have been `married' for years with children but their marriage was not registered and legally they are not deemed to be married.
1 Week To Countdown - You may not be married yet, but it would be wise to start packing for the honeymoon. Once the ceremony is all over, and with relatives and friends swarming all over the place, you will not have time for anything.
Last day - REST! DO NOTHING ELSE. BE ROMANTIC AND CUDDLE EACH OTHER. SAY NICE THINGS TO EACH OTHER!
With all the pressure, I am sure many a quarrel would have ensued between you and your sweetheart.

If you have your checklist in place and use it as your guide,

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are ready to be married.

WEDDING CHECKLIST - 6 Months To Countdown

Select a Wedding Date and Time

• When your sweetheart and you have finally agreed to tie the nuptial knot, first and foremost choose an appropriate date and time for the wedding. Enough cannot be said about this. You want to have a wedding when most if not all your invited guests should be able to attend the ceremony. Do not for example have it on a day when everyone would rather stay at home and watch the soccer final. Most preferred days are Saturdays or Sundays. Any other day is also fine, but it would be better if it were not a working day. Of course you could consult the stars to see your ` lucky day' , but if you are not the type to believe in such things, choose a day where most people would be able to attend.

2. Discuss Your Budget

• You must know how much both parties are willing to contribute towards the expenses of the entire wedding, reception, attire, etc. Knowing how much you have and budgeting is necessary so that you do not run into the red. Allocate how much you are willing to spend on each item, and do not over spend. Have an item called Miscellaneous. If ever you do over spend, you can take funds from your miscellaneous account.

3. Discuss and Choose Location

• Choose a location that you both like. Infact, in our Asian cultures other family members and friends can also participate in the planning stages of your marriage and it can be more fun. In western culture, the couple decide everything on their own, and though this ensures privacy and non-meddling from others, I do not see `the happy family getting involved' environment.  In the villages, and this is not peculiar to the East, the whole village celebrates, even in the West.

4. Things To Finalise

• 6 months before the Wedding day is not very far away. Start preparing now. Do not wait till the last minute as is so popular with Malaysians. It is now time to choose your wedding attire and place orders. Choose and buy your jewellery and other ornaments. Order other accessories that you would I repeat – Do not wait till the last minute!
• There is nothing wrong in having a written checklist and checking it off everytime something has been done. Add and subtract to the list as you see fit. Let the checklist be your ultimate guide to a successful wedding.

WEDDING CHECKLIST

6-10 Months

1. Set the date
2. Determine the type of wedding you want.  If you intend to have your wedding solemnized by your religious leaders, consult them on this.
3. Check with the Civil Registry that grants marriage licenses and follow their instructions.
4. Discuss the budget with your fiance as well as with both families.
5. Telephone the Catering Sales Manager to discuss the wedding packages available.  Make early reservations to avoid disappointment.
6. Choose the bridesmaid and bestman.
7. Meet with florist and photographer to discuss budgets and options.
8. Select your dress, veil, formal wear gown and going away dress.
9. Choose the bridesmaid's gown and the groomsmen's attire.
10. Decide on the number of guests and make a list.
11. Decide where you will be living after the wedding. If you are moving into your own home, you will also have to plan to furnish and decorate your new home so that it will be ready in time. (Back To Top)
    
     

4-6 Months

1. Mail the invitations and announcements.
2. Write thank you notes as gifts arrive.
3. Prepare the wedding thanksgiving speech.
4. arrange for a second fitting of your wedding gown and formal wear.
5. Put finishing touches to your new home home or your matrimonial room if you live with either parents.(Back To Top)
    

3-6 Months

1. Meet with your religious officials to discuss the service and premarital counseling which many places of worship require.
2. Order the invitations, announcements and personal stationery.
3. Make honeymoon plans and reservations.
4. Make accommodation arrangements for out-of-town guests.
5. Choose and order your wedding rings.
6. See your doctor for a complete physical.
7. Help both mothers select their dresses for the wedding.
8. Ensure Civil Registry's instructions on marriage registration are carried out.
9. If immunisations are necessary for the honeymoon abroad, arrange for them.
10. Check on validity of passports.
11. Compile a list of wedding presents.
12. Confirm wedding ceremony arrangements.
13. Appoint a master-of-ceremony.
14. Co-ordinate colours of dress, flowers, cakes, etc.(Back To Top)
     

 
2-4 Months

1. Arrange a display of wedding gifts.
2. Confirm accommodation arrangements for out-of-town guests.
3. Submit wedding announcements to the newspapers.
4. Schedule a pre-wedding appointment with your hairstylist and make-up artist.
5. Come to the hotel and review all the final details with the Catering Sales Manager .  Confirm the number of guests expected.  Place seating arrangements.
6. Do a final check with the photographer, car-hire company and cake-maker to make sure the bookings are in order.  If it's a church wedding, time the journey to the church.
7. Make sure you have assembled any new or special outfits for your honeymoon and check swimsuit and suitcase.
8. Groom, bestman, fathers and ushers should make arrangements for the hire of the clothes, or double check that their own are in good order.
9. Arrange rehearsals for the wedding party.(Back To Top)
   
    

 
7 Days

1. Notify the Catering Sales Manager of the final number of guests and check on reception/dinner plans.
2. Go over the final details with the florist, photographer and musicians.
3. Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements and begin packing.
4. Make certain rehearsals are carried out and that any hitches are taken care of immediately.  Give gifts at rehearsals.
5. Make certain your guests have directions and know accommodation arrangements.(Back To Top)
    

 
1 Day

1. Greet out-of-town guests as they arrive or arrange for them to be met directed to their accommodation.
2. Pack everything you will need at the wedding venue. 
3. Make sure you have all bridal accessories, spare pantyhose, safety pins and other emergency items.
4. Find a quiet moment to exchange gifts between you and your husband-to be.
5. Take going-away clothes to the Hotel the night before the wedding and make arrangements for the bestman to pick up your honeymoon luggage.(Back To Top)
    

 
The Big Day

1. See you hairstylist and make-up artist for the final beauty preparations.
2. Have a good breakfast so you won't have butterflies in your stomach.
3. Relax, smile and thank everyone for his/her help.
4. Most of all, enjoy the celebrations you have worked so long and hard to plan for.(Back To Top)
    

 
After The Wedding

1. It's easy to forget that life does not stop after the ceremony.  Someone will have to tie up the loose ends of the arrangements while you are away on you honeymoon.(Back To Top)

 
Ask Family and Friends

1. Check your wedding clothes after you have changed into going-away clothes and return them to your home or hire company.
2. Send wedding cake to those who could not attend the wedding.
3. Pack the wedding presents if on display or given to you at the reception and have them delivered as possible.
4. Send the wedding pictures for development.

Get out of the rut

IT TAKES courage to close the gap between what we are and what we should be. Let us take a good look at the habits which mould our personality.
Are we slaves to our habits? "I never used to be like this before. Why can’t I stop this bad habit? Have I no willpower to change?" These are some of the questions we ask ourselves.
We are not born with a bottle or cigarette in our mouth. Rather, these actions are picked up by keeping the company of friends who smoke and drink.
Such bad habits upset the smooth and harmonious functioning of various organs of the body, resulting in the weakening of the defense mechanism of the body, thereby leading to many diseases.
Habits control us. We create habits but soon become slaves to them. We can break free, but it takes conscious effort to reverse the trend. It is important to find positive replacements for our weak habits and make the transformation a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
Whenever we replace negative habits with positive ones, we should remember our previous accomplishments so that they can energise us for the new effort.
Step outside your comfort zone. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator; accept a new responsibility; take a risk.
We become creatures of habit too easily. If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always get. Don’t let life pass you by – get out of the rut.

Do revert with your thoughts...

"The Relationship of Achievement Motivation to Entrepreneurial Behaviour : A Meta Analysis", CJCollins et al, Human Performance 17(1) 2004, Pp 95-117
In this well researched paper, the authors examine what motivates some people to become entrepreneurs and more important, what makes them successful. The study was done on other studies done on this theme by several researches over a period of time. Some key points -

1. Entrepreneurship includes both owners of small business and other managers (in larger companies) with decision making responsibilities.

2. Entrepreneurs, especially successful ones have a higher degree of achievement motivation in both the occupation they choose and their performance in it. This motivation for achievement is therefore an important characteristic for successful entrepreneurs.

3. Multiple methods of measuring achievement motivation of people are recommended. Individuals with such a high achievement motivation are likely to be attracted to occupations that offer high degrees of control over outcomes, personal responsibility , feedback on performance and a moderate degree of risk. By extrapolation, these 4 become ways to nurture entrepreneurship as well.

4. The studies were of only successful entrepreneurs. Other variables that influenced business success were - goal setting, belief in self efficacy, vision, business strategies, skills, and environment. Some had direct effects and others had indirect effects some had both.