First, we have to know that the engagement is not just about planning the wedding; it's a time to discuss how the important issues of a shared life will be handled.

The engagement period may be a few days, a few weeks, months or even years! so benefit and try to know each other better.

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Dress?

You've dreamt about walking down that aisle since you were a little girl, and now the big day is approaching. Whether you're choosing a dress off the rack or having one made just for you, follow these tips and make your dream come true.

1-Start your search six to nine months ahead. Special orders can take four to six months, plus time for alterations.
2-Keep your file of photographs of dresses you like from bridal magazines, advertisements and boutique promotions handy when you shop.
3-Choose a style appropriate for the ceremony. For a formal evening wedding, a floor-length dress in ivory, white, cream or champagne, often worn with gloves and a train, is an elegant choice. Semiformal dresses can be also be pastels, a floorbrushing (ballerina) length, with a short veil and no train. At a less-formal or second wedding, the bride may choose a long or short dress, or even a two-piece suit. A short veil may be very stylish paired with a classic pillbox hat.
4-Flatter your figure with a dress that suits you. Take a trusted, honest sister or friend who has your best interests at heart for feedback. Try one of each basic shape--princess, ball gown, sheath and empire waist--to see which flatters you most. Check that you can walk, turn, sit and bend comfortably, as well as lift your arms and hug loved ones without splitting a seam. Comfort and confidence are vital on this day of days.
5-Shop at bridal boutiques or department stores for a wide array of styles. Try on a few designer gowns first so you recognize the quality, then choose a dress based on your budget.
6-Set a budget. Off-the-rack dresses can be found for $250 and up. Jessica McClintock has a large selection of moderately priced gowns. A simple custom-made dress can be had for as little as $750, and can go as high as $10,000 for a Vera Wang, with many dresses in the lower third of that range.
7-Ask when bridal stores are next having a sample sale. Be on the lookout for warehouse sales on discontinued styles, samples and overstocks.
8-Make the deposit with a credit card. Get an itemized receipt spelling out every detail (manufacturer's and design name, number, price, color and size) and stating that the deal is canceled if your dress isn't ready by a specified date.
9-Budget for alterations, which can run $300 or more. Ask if pressing is included and if they'll store your dress until the big day. Also ask for recommendations for cleaning and storing the dress.

http://www.ehow.com/how_111447_choose-wedding-dress.html

How to Choose Wedding Accessories?

Planning a wedding is very time consuming and stressful and it can sometimes be difficult to remember everything that is needed in order for you to have the perfect wedding. There are a lot of wedding accessories that you will need and the ones you choose will depend on a few different things. A wedding is about more than just having the perfect dress you will need other things to make this day special and one to remember.

The accessories that you choose to have in your wedding will most likely depend on the location of the wedding, the time of year, and the venue you are having your wedding in. Once you know these things you will be able to choose things such as candles, ribbons, and flowers to set the scene for your big day. For example, if you are getting married on the beach then you will have different things as a part of your wedding than if you were getting married in a church or any other indoor setting.

The time of year that you choose to get married could affect your decision on which wedding accessories you will have. If you are getting married in the fall you may have different colors and a different style of wedding than a summer wedding will have.

The best way to be sure that you have all of the accessories that you want is to make out a list. Put down all of the things that you can think of that you would like included in your wedding and then check them off as you order them. If you are having trouble with thinking of all of the things that people traditionally have in their weddings you can do some research online.

It seems like there are a million things that have to be done at once when you are getting married. You want your day to be as special as possible and it will be as long as you stay calm and plan out the proper things to put into it. Making a list will help you to choose the perfect wedding accessories to have on your big day.

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Wolfe

How to Choose Your Wedding Rings?

When choosing your wedding ring, there are four important factors to consider:
- Choosing the gem for your wedding ring
- Type and style of your gem
The diamond is still the number one choice of couples for their wedding rings. But your wedding rings don’t have to be limited to a diamond. There are other precious stones that also work well in rings. Options include sapphires, rubies, tourmaline or garnet. The following are the most popular shapes for wedding and engagement rings: Round, Princess, Emerald, Escher, Marquise, Oval, Radiant, Pear, Heart and Cushion.

Choosing the wedding ring style:
Once you decide on a center stone, you need to decide the setting that your stone will be showcased in. The two most important factors for choosing a setting is metal type and setting style.

Metal type:
The two most common types are gold and platinum. While gold offers more choice in regards to color, platinum is a white metal in an almost pure form which makes it long-wearing. Its durability makes it a great choice for engagement and wedding rings. Platinum is more expensive than a gold ring setting.

Setting style:
There are also many options when it comes to style
- Solitaire: One stone
- Side stones: One stone flanked by many smaller stones
-Three-stone: Three large stones or one large stone in between two smaller stones.

Setting your budget:

You shouldn’t go into debt trying to pay for your wedding rings. A common rule is to spend two to three month’s salary on the ring, but this is only a guideline and you should only spend what you can reasonably afford. There are many ways to get the best engagement ring for your price. The factors that affect price are the “Four Cs”
_ Cut: The way it is cut to have brilliance
_Color: The lack of color in the gem (colorless is most ideal in a diamond)
_ Clarity: Whether the gem has small inclusions or flaws that can be seen
_ Carat Weight: The size of the gem. Finding the perfect combination for your budget is the best way to ensure you are choosing engagement and wedding rings sparkle.

http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/how-to-choose-your-engagement-and-wedding-rings-624764.html

How to choose your wedding flowers?

For all of us, flowers are one of the most important aspects of a wedding. They bring color, life, and aroma to a wedding. They help make table settings more beautiful, and can transform a formerly dull space into a beautiful personality-filled one. Yet they can also be confusing for a beginner, and a budget breaker for many, as well as an excuse to spend your wedding sneezing for some. so, be careful choosing it!

reference: personal writing

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Cake and Wedding Cake Topper?

Choosing the perfect wedding cake and wedding cake topper for your special day can, at first, seem like a major problem for someone who has no idea where to start in the process. If you keep the following ideas in mind, you can have a far better success in achieving the goal of finding the perfect cake.

First of all, consider these following steps...

1-Consider whether or not you have to adhere to a budget. If you do have to consider keeping in the confines of a monetary limit, set that amount firmly in your thoughts and proceed from there. If not, then you will be more likely to find something that is uniquely made and special, just for you.

2-Try and anticipate just exactly how many this confection has to serve. The bigger the number of guests, the bigger the cake will need to be. Coordinating the wedding cake topper with the cake should happen at the same time. Assume that everyone you have invited has responded positively and will, indeed, be coming to the reception. Once you have this number in mind, you can more accurately figure out the size of the cake you will require to serve your guests.

3-See if anyone you know has any recommendations for any bakery that has served them successfully. Look at the various wedding cake toppers to pick the one that you like best. If not, see if there are any bridal fairs being held in your area (many take place in the first month or so of the year) where you can go and see examples of what local specialty bakeries have to offer.

4-Many of them will have portfolios featuring pictures of their past creations to give you a better idea of what they are capable of producing. If you see anything that particularly impresses you, be sure you get one of their business cards so you can make an appointment to meet with them and discuss your needs at a later time.

5-Make an appointment with the one or two bakeries you like to have a cake tasting. At this tasting the bakery will offer you and any who accompany you (like your prospective mate, wedding planner, etc.) several different examples of the flavors of cakes and fillings that they can offer you.

6-Try to have an idea of what you might prefer, as well as the possible preferences of any guests, especially the members of either family, but be open to new combinations you might be offered. These bakeries have a good idea of how big a cake will be needed to serve the number of guests you are expecting.

7-Discuss what kind of cake you would like to have as well as the wedding cake topper that will look best with it. This includes the shape of the cake, what kinds of colors or special decorations you would like to see. Chances are the cake artist will make detailed sketches of what form the cake would take, including how simple or complicated the decoration would be.

8-If you have a preference for cake topper (like a ceramic or porcelain piece or using fresh flowers that reflect those used for the bridal bouquet or other decorations), now is the time to discuss them. Depending on the ingredients used, the amount of labor that goes into the production, size and the use of non-edible decorations like hanging Austrian crystals, all will affect the cost of the cake. It is not unusual for a relatively modest cake to start at $500, with costs going up to $1500 and over for larger creations.

9-If you follow these guidelines; you will find that you have a greater success in getting the perfect cake and topper just for you.

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-the-Perfect-Wedding-Cake-and-Wedding-Cake-Topper

Top 10 list of wedding quotations

1-Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. (Aristotle)

2- A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. (Germaine Greer)

3- To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up. (Ogden Nash)

4- To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage. (Lao Tzu)

5- It took great courage to ask a beautiful young woman to marry me. Believe me, it is easier to play the whole Petrushka on the piano. (Arthur Rubinstein)

6- Two such as you with such a master speed cannot be parted nor be swept away from one another once you are agreed that life is only life forevermore together wing to wing and oar to oar. (Robert Frost)

7- There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. (Homer)

8- Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. (Roy Goodman)

9-Two souls with but a single thought,Two hearts that beat as one. (Friedrich Halm)

10- There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. (Martin Luther)

http://www.famous-quotes-and-quotations.com/wedding-quotes.html