2009's Boldest, Most Beautiful Wedding Gown Trends

Finally! 2009's gowns bring brides some real choices, after several years of strapless uniformity. (Thank you, Vera Wang!) If you're the type of bride who wants a couture (or couture-inspired) gown to match the finer shades of your personality and wedding style, 2009 is the year with your name on it! Here are a few of the hottest trends going:

Crumb-Catcher Bodices.

This regal, old-world design twist came from that same lust for luxe that brought us Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, and its subsequent style explosion in the bridal world.

Greek Goddess Columns.

The ultimate look backward, the style takes us back to the lovely goddesses (and early supermodels) of Greece's Golden Age. With plenty of glorious examples to be seen from bridal magazines to the red carpet, this style's not going away soon. Happily, it lends itself to arm bling and the half up-half down style that's still so alluring to brides. Also note: bridesmaids look amazing in goddess gowns when the bride's wearing something more structured.

Asymmetrical / One-Shouldered Styles.

These gowns are sexy attention-getters. Another hot commodity on the red carpet, the asymmetrical top adds up to an exciting departure from same-old strapless, while exuding plenty of come-hither vibes.

Subued Color Plays.

Color's no longer the domain of a bold -- or even distracting -- burst of contrast in the train or cuffed bodice of an otherwise stark-white gown. Instead, next year's color inspiration flows from Vera Wang's gowns in warm toasts and charcoals, St. Pucchi's fabulous champagne and platinum combos, or gowns that ripple with multicolored gardens of embroidery (Claire Pettibone).

The Mini.

No longer the oddball in an otherwise full-length portfolio, minis have become serious business, with layers and ruches and ruffles aplenty. Increasing number of brides find them a brilliant choice for tent weddings on the shore or in the vineyard. And let's not forget those brides who want a gorgeous but mobile second gown to get down and boogie the night away.

By Blake Kritzberg

For more 2009 wedding trends and expert help in planning a hot wedding, see Favor Ideas. Don't miss our personalized wedding favors and elegant wine stopper favors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Kritzberg

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Words of Congratulations For a Wedding - 3 Amazing Ways to Congratulate the Wedding Couple

When someone's getting married, it's important that you give words of congratulations for a wedding. After all, marriage is a huge step and it's supposed to be the happiest day of a person's life!

However, tradition (and perhaps poor creativity) has reduced words of congratulations for a wedding to a mere "Congratulations!" Luckily, you don't have to be the 100th person to say that to the newlywed couple. Below are some great ways to really amp the celebration.

1) Look for a happy and romantic love poem.

This is, of course, only applicable when you're sending the newlyweds a card or a letter. This is one creative way you can convey words of congratulations for a wedding. Stop using all those "Congratulations" and "Best Wishes" lines. Honestly, such words have lost their meaning a long time ago.

2) Say, "You are the luckiest man/woman in the world!"

This might sound a little far-fetched, but these words of congratulations for a wedding clearly indicate that this is a day to be celebrated.

It's important for you to tell them that you think they will make each other happy and contented. It's not just about the bride and groom anymore. What their closest friends and family think are also significant to their happiness.

3) Do not say "good luck" or "best of luck."

One thing you should avoid is clapping them on the back and telling the newlyweds "Good luck!" It makes them think that they might need it!

While a marriage is not an easy feat (especially in such modern times), you have to focus more on the best years of their life. Instead of saying "Best of luck," try initiating a toast and saying, "Here's to the best years of your life, guys!" This line is a real winner.

Delivering sincere and meaningful words of congratulations for a wedding is very important. It basically sets the tone for the newlyweds' happy ending.

By Michael Lee

Discover how to say the right words in any situation and influence people by using powerful persuasion and mind control techniques. Grab your FREE course that reveals 10 groundbreaking persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm.

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Design Your Own Wedding Dress

Weddings are without a doubt some of the most glamorous and memorable occasions. It is therefore not surprising to see brides go into a frenzy trying to get a beautiful and unique dress to wear on their wedding day. Most brides prefer to buy ready-made wedding dresses. However, there are those who want their wedding dresses to have a personal touch. Such brides often opt to make their own dresses. It is easier today for brides to design their own wedding dress as they are under no obligation to follow most rules regarding the color, design and trains. You can then choose to design your own wedding dress and then hand it over to a tailor to make or design it and make it yourself.

Design Your Wedding Dress Online -- The Style and Color
The first step a bride should take when designing her own wedding dress is to consider the style she wants be it elegant, traditional, modern, sexy or classy. The bride should then turn to the smaller details. She should pick the desired color and ensure that he colour goes well with her skin colour and hair. A bride can create the perfect wedding dress by getting different ideas from already existing ones. Brides can do this by visiting bridal shops and trying on different designs, colors and lengths to see which one would fit them best. It will also be an opportunity for them to find out the newest available trends.

Design Your Wedding Dress -- The Fabric & Stitching
After looking at the available designs and picking out details to incorporate into the dress, the brides should then go out to fabric stores or to the internet to get the fabric they will use to make their wedding dress. If one does not like natural fabrics that easily wrinkle, they should opt for synthetic fabrics.

Once you design your own wedding dress and the desired fabric has been picked, the work of stitching can now begin. It is a great idea to make a sample before embarking on the real dress to practice on making the dress. However, it is advisable that an experienced tailor be sort for the job to avoid any mishaps. To enhance the dress, one may use crystals, embroidery, lace, beads and so on.

Wedding Dress Design -- Dress Shape
When designing the dress, one should make sure that the dress complements their body shape. Mermaid shaped dresses are normally tight at the top but flare down at the bottom. A-line shaped dresses are usually narrower at the top, work well with most figures and disguise the bottom heavy ones. Sheath dresses hug the body and have defined waists. They usually look good on people who are well toned. A ball gown, which comes with a full skirt and a fitted bodice, is good for hiding the less flattering places in one's figure.

Weddings represent a significant occasion in the life of any human being. Being able to design your own wedding dress is the best way to add that personal touch to one of the most memorable events of your life. For most brides, this opportunity to express them creates a sense of satisfaction and allows them to explore their creativity.

By Michael Marchese

Learn more about designing your wedding dress by clicking on the following link: http://www.designweddingdressonline.com/Design-My-Wedding-Dress-Online.html

For additional related topics covering wedding dresses and wedding dress design, please visit http://www.designweddingdressonline.com

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2009 Wedding Color Forecast and Trends

Popular wedding colors change yearly, even seasonally. In a 2008 Kate Aspen bridal poll, brides to be told us that blue was the "in" color for weddings and it appears that fashion designers agree - blue is tops for 2009 wedding trends. This past runway season, bright blue, cobalt blue, turquoise and every shade in between was the top color trend for the upcoming season.

The leading women in our country and their stylists agree - both Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain made their most memorable convention speeches in shades of turquoise blue. Both women are fashionable with their choice in color - shades of blue are the hottest colors for the upcoming season. Many of spring and summer's looks will feature the greener side of blue, just as their dresses were for this past Presidential election.

In 2009, blue may be the trendiest, but shades will encompass various hues. Besides turquoise blue designers featured clear bright blue, green blue, deep violet blue, cobalt blue, palace blue, and Williamsburg blue in their collections. Think bright, strong or saturated hues of this dynamic color. The only shade which was missing from the 2009 fashion palette was navy.

This color is universally flattering - you will find a shade perfect to suit everyone's complexion and hair color in your wedding party. It also is traditional, classic and timeless. It will also be the perfect "something blue" for your day.

If you are looking for complimentary colors to match your something blue theme, neutral trends from last year continue into 2009. While 2007 and 2008 focused on darker chocolate brown, 2009 concentrates on lighter neutrals - such as cream, champagne, bone, taupe, tan, shimmering light gold, and beige. All of these neutrals have a beautiful creamy undertone which complements the various shades of blue which are popular.

Another neutral which was popular on the runways was grey. Shades of grey whether it be light grey, steel, gunmetal or brushed silver also compliment the year's color palette and strike a beautiful balance. Imagine your groom in a charcoal suit with a bright blue tie - simply stunning.

Other colors which are worth noting which also made the runways were light sherbet colors, perfect for the warmer weather such as Lemon Yellow, Pale Peach, Light Salmon, and Powder Blue.

Ultimately, your wedding colors should reflect you both, as a couple. Whether you choose a color which is trendy or if you choose your favorite hue make sure that it will be one you will enjoy looking at in your wedding photos for years to come.

By Erica Tevis

Is your wedding color for 2009 blue? Then be sure to check out Little Things Wedding Favors huge selection of blue wedding favors with over 250 wedding favors in various shades of blue - one is sure to match your wedding colors perfectly!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Tevis

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Outdoor Weddings in the City

Many couples love the idea of an outdoor wedding. If you live in the country, there will be countless sites from which to choose, but city brides may think that their only venue options are inside sites. However, there are actually quite a few magnificent outdoor wedding venues in big cities - you just have to know where to look.

A lot of large cities in America are built near water, so finding a venue with a harbor or river view would be fantastic. There are many more than you may realize. One terrific idea is to hold your wedding on a boat in the harbor, lake, or river nearest your city. Just think about it, you could be exchanging your vows with the beautiful water surrounding you, while at the same time, the city skyline is in the distance. Whether you are cruising around New York harbor, along the shores of Lake Michigan, or off the coast of California, you will have spectacular photos to remember your day by.

Perhaps you have always envisioned being married in a natural garden setting. No need to search for a far away country locale. Every major city has at least one botanical garden. A city like New York has several fantastic gardens. You can have a very romantic ceremony in such a lush place.

For a wedding in a city botanical garden, think of romance and flowers as your theme. Luckily, the setting will need little decoration, as it will already be insanely gorgeous. You can focus your attention on dressing the bride and bridesmaids. Look for dresses that are romantic and flowing, in fabrics such as chiffon or Chantilly lace. For the bridesmaid jewelry sets, imagine crystal and pearl drop earrings and pendants. Sets of bridesmaid jewelry with such delicate accents would be perfect for a lovely outdoor garden.

Outdoor wedding venues can also be urban and modern. There are some fantastic rooftop decks and gardens that you can find, especially for smaller weddings. You can have a great city view as the backdrop for your ceremony and reception. A rooftop setting would be particularly romantic for an evening wedding ceremony. The twinkling cityscape would be a perfect backdrop as a pair of city lovers say their "I dos".

For this type of venue, showcase the best that your city has to offer. It would be really fun for the bride to wear a modern and fashion-forward wedding gown, perhaps one designed by an up-and-coming designer in her city. Instead of the standard wedding fare, hire a hip local restaurant to do the catering. Your wedding favors can be cookies in the shape of a local landmark or icon. This will make the city itself a part of your wedding, which is great for couples who met and fell in love in a place like New York or L.A.

Being a city dweller doesn't have to mean that your wedding has to be in a hotel ballroom. Be creative, and explore some of the unique outdoor venues that every city has to offer. Not only will you find a great spot for you wedding, but you may discover something new about your city along the way.

By Guy Antonelli

Guy writes on many subjects including travel,customs and society. SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridesmaid jewelry sets are the perfect way for the bride to thank her attendants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Antonelli

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Bridal Shower Favors - Elegant, Practical Or Just For Fun!

p align="justify">Hosting a bridal shower is surely a labor of love. There's just so much to do including invitations, menu, decorations and favor selection just to name a few . There is, however, a great reward at the end - the sincere appreciation from the bride-to-be and your guests for all of your efforts.

To help make the 'deciding on the perfect bridal shower favor' easier, keep these two things in mind: The guests of honor and the tone you want to set for the party. As you browse your favor options, if something jumps out at you that says "that's her!" then there's a good chance she will love it, as will the guests. Secondly, bridal showers can take many forms - elegant luncheons at a restaurant, a lovely meal served in your home, or a fun night out with the girls. Pick a favor that fits with the tone of the party.

Shower favors tend to fall into 3 categories: Elegant, Practical, and Fun - although many favors can bridge two categories.

Elegant: These favors tend to be keepsake items that your guests will admire or use in the years to come. They often have a silver finish which lends to their elegance. These favors include: wine or bottle stoppers with a silver heart or shell at the top, silver picture frames, bookmarks and compact mirrors. Also considered elegant are lovely note cards or notepads that you personalize in honor of the event. There are many online resources for this, just type "personalized note cards" in your search bar to find several.

Lovely candles, whether in the form of a votive, pillar or set of tapers, all make elegant favors. If you'd like, wrap a pretty bow around them to dress up their presentation.

Anything enclosed in a beautiful favor box or bag also fits into this category - it's like receiving a beautifully wrapped present. Fill them with candy, truffles, or homemade cookies. Or cookies shaped and decorated like wedding cakes or bridal gowns.

Practical: It's also very nice to receive a party favor that you would actually use. Once again bottle stoppers and frames fall into this category but this time they need not be silver-finished. Which greatly increase your choices. Add to this lovely smelling sachets - they come in a very large variety of shapes including those that resemble wedding gowns. Gaining popularity are handbag 'holders'. These simple and highly portable items attach to a table (think 'restaurant') so that your purse or handbag doesn't have to sit on the floor, your lap, or hang on the back of your chair.

Coasters are also a popular choice - especially those that enable you to insert a photo into the middle of the coaster.

Just for Fun: These typically revolve around a theme. There are scores of purse, shoe, and diamond themed favors that are great fun such as purse-shaped manicure sets and shoe shaped bottle openers. Or big 'diamond' keychains or 'faux' rings. A search on these terms will reward you with many choices. And then there are the edible fun favors which mostly consist of products that have personalized labels on them such as candy bars, mint tins, cocktail mixes, muffin mixes, coffee and cocoa mixes. The possibilities here are practically endless since you typically get to choose the graphics and text which will appear on the labels.

I hope that this have given you some great ideas and made your party planning a bit easier!

Diva Favors - Copyright 2009

By Debra Rosenberg

Debra Rosenberg is an avid home entertainer, a party consultant and owner of Diva Favors and recommends Bridal Shower favors including handbag holders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Rosenberg

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Are You Hiring Wedding Planners To Help Plan Your Special Day?

Are you planning a wedding in La Jolla, California or elsewhere within the beautiful city of San Diego? If so, you will certainly want to hire wedding planners in San Diego who have plenty of experience with planning and executing the perfect wedding and reception.

Therefore, you should spend plenty of time exploring your options and finding the best planner to provide you with gourmet catering in La Jolla as well as all the other services you will need to plan your big day.

Even if you have taken the time to find the best wedding planners in San Diego, it is important for you to follow up on a few key items as your wedding day approaches. This is particularly true when it comes to gourmet catering in La Jolla as you want to be certain to have plenty of food for all of your guests and be able to meet any special dietary needs that your guests may have.

In order to make certain your special day goes off without a hitch, it is important for you to finalize your menu and your headcount during the last few weeks prior to your wedding day, and to give this information to the company providing you with gourmet catering in La Jolla, CA. If you are still waiting to hear back from some of the people you have invited, now is the time to call them and find out whether or not they plan on attending.

Other arrangements you and your wedding planner should be finalizing at this time include...

- Scheduling an appointment with your hairstylist or salon in order to get your hair and makeup done on your wedding day
- Try on your wedding gown one last time in order to make certain it does not need any additional alterations
- Contact your bridesmaids to be certain they have their gowns and that they fit properly
- Write your vows, if you will be writing your own, as well as your speech, if you will be giving a toast at the reception or the rehearsal dinner
- Contact all of your vendors to make certain they have the proper delivery times, and answer any last minute questions they may have
- Make your final seating arrangements, if you will have assigned seating at the reception
- Start filling out paperwork for a new social security card, driver's license, and other paperwork, if you will be changing your name once you are married

Although you may be hiring professional wedding planners in San Diego that you feel you can rely upon, it is still a good idea to check with them to make certain they have completed the last minute details they are responsible for. And you need to complete all your last minute details too! By doing so, you can relax and rest easy in knowing that your special day will go exactly as you had planned.

By Kurt Metzger

One of the most highly regarded Catering Company's in San Diego today, Concept Catering by CK has received critical acclaim for their signature "Fresh, Local and Organic" cuisine.

For additional information on San Diego Catering Company's visit http://www.conceptcateringbyck.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Metzger

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7 Tips For Choosing Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are small, but lovely wedding gifts that the wedding couple leaves for each guest at the wedding reception. These trinkets are usually set at each place setting and may be incorporated into the place setting as the name holder.

When deciding on what type of wedding favor it is important to remember these 7 tips.

Tip #1 - Know your budget. If you will be inviting 100 guests to your sit down dinner reception and you only want to spend $100 on wedding favors you know that you need to look for wedding favors costing about $1 apiece. While most favors tend to run in the $3-$5 range each, don't be discouraged. One dollar per wedding favor can be done! There are tons of ideas out there. Purchase small gift bags that have been decorated and personalized as a place card. (You or a friend can do these by hand.) Then, large containers of items - beautiful pebbles, shells, candies or potpourri can be used as centerpieces for the guests to take home a memento of your wedding day.

Tip #2 - Use the wedding favors as a way to represent your wedding theme or colors. Small snowflake picture frames, ornaments, or coasters would be an elegant way to enhance a winter wedding.

Tip #3 - Whenever possible, incorporate the wedding favor as a cardholder for the place setting. If you have chosen assigned seating for your reception save yourself the time and expense of purchasing and arranging dozens of place cards and wedding favors. There are many wonderful favors that will serve double duty.

Tip #4 - Think outside of the box. A wedding favor is a gift, but there is no rule that says it has to be in a box all wrapped up and topped with a ribbon and a bow. You can save so much time, energy and worry. (Your worry, but mostly your bridesmaids time and energy, as they would probably be assigned the daunting task of wrapping those hundreds of gifts!)

Tip #5 - Be aware of the current trends and fashions. Wrapping candies in a circle of netting material and tying it with a personalized ribbon with your names and wedding date on them is so 1990s. There is no reason to despair even if you are completely lost for ideas. There are so many resources. You can search the Internet for ideas, join an online community of other people who are planning weddings and share ideas, or thumb through wedding magazines. If you can't afford to buy them, go to your local library and browse through the current and past issues for ideas.

Tip #6 - Use the newest technology to really make an impression on your guests. You have probably been to a wedding where disposable 35mm cameras are left on the table for guests to use, but are you aware that they make disposable camcorders now? Each guest could record their wedding wishes to you and take about 20 minutes of footage. The cameras are returned to the store where you purchased them and a DVD is made of each camera's contents.

Tip #7 - Enjoy the entire experience. If the idea of finding wedding favors puts you over the edge then you are taking on more than you can handle. The secret to staying sane while planning a wedding is to enjoy every stage - even the difficult ones. Planning and pulling off a large ceremony and party does take quite a bit of organization and a huge sense of humor. If you are acting as your own wedding planner try to make each decision and task as joyful and fun as possible. Yes, there will be stumbling blocks, but there is also a lot of festivity and amusement that goes along with planning a wedding. So, savor every moment.

By Lindy Smart

http://www.firstavenueweddingfavors.com

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Unique Groomsmen Gift Ideas

Make sure the gift is personal to the recipient. The wedding and all the preparations up to this point have been about you and your lovely bride-to-be. Now, it's time to think about the other people in your life that you just can't do without-your buddies. A personal gift shows you put the time and consideration into choosing something that is unique to each one of your groomsmen. This does not have to be as hard as it sounds. One easy way to do it is to engrave the gift with the recipient's name or initials. For example, a stainless steel business card case with your friend's name engraved on it makes for an elegant, useful and personal gift. Another great idea is a personalized pub sign that he can hang in his office, home bar or game room.

Utility is another factor to consider when choosing your groomsmen gifts. Let's face it, people like getting gifts that they can use. For example, fine travel accessories are perfect gifts, especially since the odds are that at least one of your groomsmen had to travel for your wedding day festivities. A personalized luggage tag or leather toiletry bag also makes a creative, useful and attractive gift. Another idea is a stainless steel army knife. Besides being practical, it's truly a timeless item that every guy should have. Again, be sure to engrave it with your friend's initials or the wedding date to make it more meaningful.

Themed gifts are also a good way to show your friends that you took the time to pick something out that reflects their personality or interests. For example, get your pal that loves cigars a personal humidor with his name imprinted on the lid. Another idea is to get your sport-loving pal a handsome beer stein or mug with his favorite team's logo and his initials on it.

The most important thing to keep in mind and the secret to finding the perfect groomsmen gift is simple: give a gift that you yourself would love to receive. It really is more about them and less about you and your big day. Once you get in that frame of mind, you will realize that you have many more options to choose from.

By Mike Cafferty

Mike is an author for a variety of event-related gift ideas. For more information on groomsmen gifts you can visit cigarian.com and browse their selection. You can get groomsmen gift ideas based on your budget.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Cafferty

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Planning Your Perfect Wedding - How to Spend Less Than $5,000 For Your Perfect Wedding

About a year ago, my SweetPea and I had a glorious wedding for 300 people that cost under $5,000. "Impossible," you cry. Not at all. What we had was love and motivation. Financially, it was a ridiculous time for us to marry. Emotionally, it was perfect and even a bit imperative. Two important people in our lives had just died. My dad was nearing 93 and talking about dying. My mom has Alzheimer's and couldn't be counted on to be aware forever. So, we decided to marry. What did we do?

Decided what was important to us. Before we did any wedding planning, we talked about what we wanted from our relationship. These conversations would form the basis for our wedding vows. In addition, we talked about what would be important to us at our celebration. I design and perform ceremony; he's a professional musician; and we both are extremely public (ok, and dramatic and not-so-young) people. Guess where our emphases would lie! But a small wedding seemed inappropriate to who we are and how we live. If we were going to do it, we were going to have to do it big.

Decided how much we could realistically spend. We had a very small amount of cash available. Friends and family were wildly generous. What was most important was to find a space that could handle that many people, food, drinks and music - and of course a great ceremony!

Decided where we would follow tradition and where we would forge our own path. We used e-mail invitations and sewed hems in tablecloths.

Decided to invite our community's participation. If you're going to do this, you have to be able to organize, accept support and then let go. You can't ask for participation and then micro-manage. Doesn't work.

Decided to make this about acknowledging and celebrating all relationships. While our relationship was at the center of the day, the entire event was about all the different kinds of relationships present that day. Families, friends, chosen communities were lifted up that day.

Decided to celebrate the gifts of the community. We asked people to participate in ways that showed how fabulous they were.

Decided to make the wedding a weekend gathering rather than an event. People came from all over the world and hung out in one another's company for concerts and weddings and breakfasts.

Decided to create a foundation and ask for donations rather than gifts. Our friends' generosity was tax deductible and they got to contribute to something they believe in.

What happened?

1. The ceremony was meaningful to us and to our entire community.

2. Our relationship is supported and celebrated by a wide variety of friends. (There will be no divorce. You try and tell 300 people who invested in you that you're splitting!)

3. Our community(ies) met and mingled. Friendships were made across continents and across seas. Families and friends reconnected.

4. The rich talents of the community were revealed and embraced.

5. People's generosity was invited and accepted.

6. People participated in something bigger than they were and they invested in it because they cared about it, and they cared about it because they invested in it!

7. The ceremony not only joined our lives, it helped people reflect on Love and its transformative abilities.

8. We were reminded how greatly we are loved and how much our love for one another is celebrated.

9. We were married in the eyes of our community and, in our case, the Divine.

10. No one wants to celebrate our anniversary, they want a reunion!

By Ann Keeler Evans

Bottom Line?: Give your relationship the chance it deserves to succeed wildly, against all odds! After all, you deserve it. Your relationship deserves it! And now I'd like to invite you to sign up to receive 2 free templates for creating the wedding ceremony of your dreams, the wedding vows of your heart and the marriage of a lifetime: http://annkeelerevans.org/weddings/free

The Rev. Ann Keeler Evans - helping you move from "I do" to happily and healthily ever after!

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