Questions Not to Ask on a First Date

First dates can always be so anxiety ridden it can feel like a mine field. With so much pressure looming over a first date it’s hard to know how to handle it. For even the most outgoing of people it can still be a nerve wracking experience. Conversation usually is the biggest element when your on a first date. Why? Because conversation generally dictates the chemistry level between the twp people. There are so many ways to end your date before it begins with bad conversation that you really need to be aware of what not to say to avoid ruining your first date. Where do you go with your conversation, what do you say, how do you say it and most importantly what don’t you say? Here’s some questions best left avoided when you are on a first date;

How Old Are You?

While you may think there is a reason to know the answer to this question, it isn’t something that should be asked on the firs date. This can be regarded as an offensive question to some, while others wouldn’t find it a problem. On a first date there is no way to know which way your date will view this questions so it is better left unasked.

How Much Money Do You Make?

This question should totally be off limits. Sure, discuss profession, schooling, whatever you like but stay away from money. Not only is it in bad taste, it gives of the “gold digger vibe”. Having a conversation about profession can be interesting and hold allot of interest, it does not have to divulge how much money is made. It quickly can end your date.

So What Happened With Your Last Relationship?

Asking about previous relationships is a sure fire way to end your date, sooner rather than later. It can open what you would call “Pandora’s Box”. You have no way of knowing where your date has been in relationships and if it is at all a touchy subject. Try getting to know someone before you start to ask overly personal questions. It can definitely come of as way to pushy. This conversation is best left alone until the comfort level  of your relationship dictate its.

When Do You Want To Have Kids?

You may as well put your coat right back on, because this date is over. The “kid”question is probably the most invasive question you can ask on a first date. Someone’s position on having children is not dinner conversation, let alone a talk to have on your first date. This is the first date, you want to keep the conversation light and not too deep. This will definitely put pressure on your date, and he will probably never call you for a second date.

Last but not the least, don’t ask if you are looking fat or ugly as it will create tension between you two. Avoid these embarrassing questions during first date to enjoy an evening of pleasure without getting jittery or having butterflies in your stomach.

How to Develop a Good Wedding Reception Invitation

Looking to impress your guests before they even arrive to your wedding reception? Do this by developing a wedding reception invitation that will keep them talking. Wedding receptions often times are an overwhelming event to plan. Many couples have wedding questions that range from floral design, centerpieces to wedding reception invitations. Don’t become overwhelmed. Set out a strategic planning to allow some organization into your event. Your wedding reception will be one of the biggest events in your life that you will plan. Don’t overlook the little details. Start your wedding reception planning with the first thing everyone will see. Your wedding invitations.

Wedding invitations are keepsakes for your guests. Your wedding invitations should set the tone for your event. This encompasses everything from the stationary that you choose to the font it is written in. The wedding invitation will be held on to and referred to the entire day. It is as important as the venue you choose, the dress you wear, or the cake you will eat. One little card will hold all the details for your event that your guests will refer to. The stationary choice will likely depend on your budget. A heavy card stock shows the quality behind the stationary. Any additional details such as embossing, colour and reply cards choice all all part of designing your wedding invitation.

A wedding invitation should provide your names, venue, time of event and lastly your expectation for your guests. You may wonder on the latter. If your event is  semi formal or black tie this should be stated on your wedding invitation for your guests to know ahead of time. If you have a lull in time between your ceremony and wedding reception your guest should be prepared. This is a crucial component to your wedding invitation. Changes in venue are also stated on your wedding invitation. Your wedding reception is usually at a different location than your ceremony, and time changes have to be known to your guests. A wedding invitation provides a certain quiet organization to your event. Each guest is aware of where they are expected to be and at the proper times. Without this, surely chaos would ensue. Selecting wedding invitations for your reception may require the hands on touch. Don’t forget when selecting your stationary grade, colour and font.

Can You Buy Wedding Reception Invitations Online?

That will depend on the couples expectation. Are the couple expecting to exude an understated elegance by choosing the right invitation for their event, or perhaps their concerns lie elsewhere. Wedding supplies are now available almost everywhere providing almost to many options to couples. Online purchasing has its pros and cons. While you may be able to have a “one stop shop” experience online you may be missing crucial parts of the experience.

When selecting invitations with a printer you have the ability to see finished products, touch and feel what your guests will be receiving. Having this available to you may be the deciding factor. There is something to be said for a high quality wedding invitation with all the trimmings. A heavily weighted card stock with perfectly placed embossments, a scripted font inviting your guests to the celebration of your lifetime. This is how the tone of your event can be set.

What To Do When A Man Withdraws

Love is sometimes difficult to understand and men can quite often be complex creatures for women who love them. Almost every man, at one time or another, is going to withdraw from the woman he loves. There are some definite steps that you can take to draw him closer and to keep from pushing him further away. Relationship advice can be tough to follow and, quite often, amazingly enough, the thing you should do is the exact opposite of what you feel like doing.

Relationship problems are a realilty for all of us but the following will help you know what to do when a man withdraws. First and foremost, give him space. It is natural to want to call the man you love or be near him when you think he is going through a hard time. Stop. That’s right – simply stop. Men, unlike women, process their worry and anxiety differently than women. It is natural for us to think that his withdrawal is related to us and the relationship. That may be true, but not necessarily. And, even if it is, he needs time alone to overcome his fears.

Your understanding and patience will work wonders. Do not call him, do not ask him what’s wrong. Instead, get busy with your life. Get involved in some activity or activities that will take your mind off of him and your relationship. He is quite capable of dealing with his own problems without your help. Allow him to do so. He truly doesn’t need your relationship advice although you might feel desperate to give it to him. When he comes back around, and he will if you allow him his time, be open and be happy. Do not have an attitude with him as to why it took him so long to call or to start talking again. As a matter of fact, it works best if you act as if you barely noticed he was gone.

You might say something like, “It feels great to hear from you or to see you,” but you don’t want to make a big deal out of his absence. Instead, you should be filled with exciting news about your life and what has been going on. This relieves him of feeling responsible for your happiness and makes him think that being with you for the long haul would be light and easy, not dramatic and tough.

Relationship problems are not something that a man wants to discuss so don’t do so unless you have no other recourse. Many women often wonder how long they have to wait for their man to get over his withdrawal. Unfortunately, every man is different. The decision is really totally up to you. His withdrawal may last a few days or it could last a few months. Since you are not putting your life on hold, it really doesn’t matter how long it takes him.

My last words of love and relationship advice are to always remember that as long as you keep stepping toward him, he will keep moving back. If you instead step back and create the space needed for him to step forward, he will do just that.

And most of all, remember, everyone has relationship problems.   It’s how you choose to address those problems that will keep your relationship moving forward.

Have any dating questions? Get all the answers you need now at Rachael West Designs.

Bring The Beach To Your Wedding With Flowers

Beach weddings are always so beautiful. There is nothing quite like having a wedding by the ocean with the sun , surf , and the sand all around you.  Typical wedding flowers are not quite right for this distinctive setting; something special is called for.   You will need great ideas for beach wedding flowers for your bouquets and centerpieces.

The attitude at the beach is always a bit more laid back, so your centerpieces and bouquets should reflect that. Loose arrangements will fit the scene better than anything very sculpted or precise. Think bouquets with a hand-tied appearance rather than tight nosegays and centerpieces with some movement instead of perfectly symmetrical displays. It is definitely nice to bring in elements with local flavor as well, whether it is shells, sand, coral, or tropical flowers.

Bright colors are ideal for beach wedding flowers. Nothing feels more tropical than a big bunch of fuchsia hibiscus tied with an organza ribbon. Exotic orchids come in a truly remarkable array of colors, including vivid purples, hot pinks, oranges, and yellows, all of which could make marvelous additions to a beach wedding bouquet. Lilies and birds of paradise are other flowers with a tropical appeal. They are particularly pleasing for cascade bouquets.

More traditional bridal flowers like roses can be given a beachy style with the addition of special accents. Pale pink roses with small spiral seashells wired in amongst them would be a beautiful bouquet design for a beach wedding. This is a lovely way to give pale colored flowers a beach feeling, if you are not interested in the bright showy tropical colors. The shells are a nice detail, and look great when the bridal party is wearing beach theme wedding jewelry, especially beach wedding jewelry with a seashell motif.

If you are planning a destination wedding to Hawaii or just want to bring the flavor of the Hawaiian islands to your local beach, think about having floral leis on hand, not just for the bride and groom, but all of the wedding guests. This would be a fantastic way to say “aloha” to your guests as they arrive at the wedding ceremony, and would surely get everyone into the spirit of your beach wedding!

For beachy centerpieces, the same general ideas which work for bouquets will be great. Bright tropical flowers, the addition of seashells, sand dollars, or faux coral will do the trick. Another idea is to design creative centerpieces with a tropical flavor. Use a hollowed out pineapple or coconut shell to hold flowers instead of a standard vase. Or fill tall clear cylinders with orchids submerged in water and nestle on a bed of sand in the middle of each dinner table. Another gorgeous idea for a beach wedding centerpiece is to fill clear vases with shells and then place the floral displays on top. These special ideas will make for beach wedding flowers that make your wedding unique and beautiful.

If you have any wedding questions about your wedding flowers feel free to ask Rachael West Designs.

DIY Wedding Favors

If you are a bride who is finding a great way to trim down your wedding expenses, DIY ideas are a practical suggestion to go about. There is a lot of things you can actually do using your creativity and skills, like making your own wedding favors. DIY wedding favors have become very popular these days.  If made with creativity and feeling they  can definitely look like they were made by a professional. DIY wedding favors are usually made of items which you can purchase at discount stores in bulk. With various accessories you can buy and use, it is not impossible to distribute impressive wedding favors without breaking your bank.

Soaps

Making your own soap wedding favors is not that difficult. Basically, you will need soap chips or soap base, essential oils or fragrance, colorants and a molder. To make your own soap wedding favors, it will be easy to take a ready-made bar of soap and just melt it down. Since the bar has already all ingredients you need in it, all you have to do is to wait until it melts and then pour the liquefied soap into the mold of your choice. You can also use a cookie cutter if you want to shape your homemade soap while it is still warm. The finishing touch is of course packaging them using cellophane bags, organza bags, or small gift boxes. You may consider a few add-ons such as wedding favor charms or personalized tags.

Candles

Alternatively, you can make your own candle wedding favors at home. The process of making soaps and candles is a bit the same. You can purchase assorted candles in bulk, at pretty inexpensive prices. They are also available in different colors, sizes and scents. You can give candles a glamorous effect by purchasing tag sheets, that are available in various choices. For a final touch, you can tie a personalized ribbon on each candle, or on the top of the cellophane or organza where the candles were wrapped in.

Favor Boxes

Favor boxes are one of the cheapest favor ideas you may consider giving out. The best thing about these boxes is you can take them a step further by filling with anything you desire, from button candies, soaps to confetti. Another idea would be that you may leave them empty for your guests to fill themselves. Favor boxes are also very easy to decorate using personalized tag sheets and color-coordinated ribbons.

Do-it-yourself favors will basically help you save money on your wedding. You can easily find and purchase bulk items on many wholesale stores online. You can get as creative as you want when making them yourself. Other inexpensive wedding favors to choose from include personalized stickers, key rings, mouse pads, magnets, cookie cutters and so on. DIY wedding favors and other inexpensive wedding supplies are widely available online. Visit your favorite online store and start placing your orders as early as possible.That is of course before you comparison shop.

If you would like to find out more about DIY wedding favors or have more wedding questions, feel free to ask Rachael West Designs.

Funny Groom Speeches – Should You Do It?

Weddings could be an overwhelming experience especially if you’re the groom. This event will most likely happen only once in your life so the experience should be a memorable one. But have you given enough thought on the speech you’re expected to give? Daunting as the thought may be, it is your responsibility as the groom, to give a speech in front of 150 or so friends and relatives during the reception. It is a time honored tradition that you have to do no matter how nerve racking the idea may be. Are you nervous about the wedding day? The feeling is normal but the thought of giving a speech in front of hundreds of people will further add to the anxiety.

After the words of your new father in law, now the bridegroom takes the opportunity to speak up. You have all good words for your parents and your wife’s parents, thanking them for their years of love and care. Thank friends and family for attending your wedding and making it the most memorable event of your life. Appreciate everybody who has helped to make the wedding happen. Say some lovable and good words for your lovely wife.
So there’s normally not much people actually expect form the bridegroom’s wedding speech. This is just it.

Funny groom speeches are a great way to break the ice and inject humor to an otherwise tense crowd. It will give the atmosphere a light hearted moment that your guests would surely appreciate. Not all of us are comfortable when in front of an audience. The usual wedding jitters will further aggravate the feeling of uneasiness on your part.  Take comfort in the fact that funny groom speeches could be sourced via the internet. This is a great way to get an idea on what you are supposed to say during your speech.

The internet has changed the way how we communicate and serves as a portal of ideas on just about anything under the sun. Funny groom speeches are no exemption. Not everyone is capable of making an excellent speech but take a moment to ponder that this is a special day, a once in a lifetime moment to declare your exhilaration for finally taking the plunge.

Funny groom speeches and best man speeches need not be a collection of superfluous words that the audience may have a hard time to understand. Public speaking is a talent developed overtime. Your nervousness is understandable. Adding a sense of humor to your speech is a great idea to bring the house down and erase tension amongst your guests and funny groom speeches will give you the answer to what you need.

Whether maid of honor speeches, funny groom speeches or any speech related to a wedding, remember to add a dose of humor to your declaration. Keep in mind that a good, funny speech will be etched forever in the hearts and minds of your guests.

If you have any wedding questions feel free to ask Rachael West Designs. We’d gladly help you get all your questions answered.