Out of all the things that you want to be perfect for your wedding day, the way that you look is probably at the top of the list. With all the pictures that will be taken, you will want to be able to always look back at them and be proud of how gorgeous you looked. When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, more and more people are taking advantage of wearing a vintage wedding dress on their special day.

The term “vintage” applies to all products that are at least thirty years old. Right now we are finding that the fashion industry is in love with using vintage pieces. So to wear a vintage wedding dress would really show your sense of style off to everyone. The great thing about vintage wedding dresses is that you aren’t limited to a certain decade of style. You could go with any era that appeals the most to you and makes you look the most attractive.

If you prefer an elegant and classy look, you will want to check out the 1930’s and 1940’s vintage wedding dresses. Women of this time were known for their charm and grace. By wearing this style of dress, you can truly show off your femininity. The best way to describe the vintage wedding dresses of this time is that they had beautiful bead work, used satin materials, and included gorgeous embroidery.

If you are curious about what you will find with a 1950’s vintage wedding dress, look at pictures of Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy in their wedding dresses. They show us a sophisticated style. With each decade you will find a different kind of look. Each look gives off a message about who you are inside. So choose your dress wisely since it will be part of memories that you will have forever.

Places to look for vintage wedding dresses include antique shops and vintage stores. Since these stores can be difficult to find, you will have the best luck by searching online specialty shops. The wonderful about wearing a vintage wedding dress is that you don’t have to worry about it being in poor condition, since the dress was probably only worn one time. But to make sure that the dress was well-preserved, make sure that you are purchasing from a store that has a good reputation.

Since many times you will find that the vintage wedding dresses have faded to a creamy color, you may be uneasy about getting one. Some people prefer it this way because it gives the dress more character. But if you would prefer it to look the way it did originally, you can request that the seller have the dress whitened for you. Often this can be done without harming the fabric. Before you decide to make the purchase you may also want to talk to the local dry cleaner about the type of fabric used in the dress. They can give you an idea about how well it will hold up and whether it can be cleaned and pressed before you wear it on your big day.

Diane Winter provides information that gives you a lot of tips and ideas on planning your own wedding and how to find the suitable wedding dress. Check out also her website dream-wedding.eu/ Dream Wedding to find out how to create dream-wedding.eu/wedding-speeches/ inspirational wedding speeches.

Would you invite a total stranger you just met at a bar back to your home? For most of us, the answer is probably no. If this were the case, why would anyone do this with someone they just met through an online dating site?

Recently ABC News’ Elisabeth Leamy and Allen Levine reported a bizarre story for Good Morning America. Apparently some woman named Cat Hermansen invited a man she just met on an online dating site to pick her up at her home before they went on their first date. After arriving, the gentleman allegedly sat next to her on the couch and started “pawing” at her. Don’t worry about Hermansen though, she reached down in her sofa and pulled out her gun and put it “right in his face between his eyes.”

Hermansen feels as though she would have been raped had she not had the gun. Apparently the guy ran out of the house without even saying goodbye. Geez I wonder why?

This begs the question: what was this woman thinking? I’m sure she is a lovely person but what in God’s name possessed her to invite a man she has never met to her house? Every reputable online dating site out there will tell you this is a strict NO NO.

If you don’t own a gun and you want to be safe, follow these five simple rules and you should be OK with anything the online dating world throws you.

Always plan your first dates in public places! Always!!!! Never invite someone you do not know back to your home. If you require an explanation why you should not invite a stranger back to you home, you may want to consider delaying your foray into the online dating world.

Never give out your home phone number or your work phone number to someone you just met through an online dating website. You should always use a cell phone until you feel comfortable with this person. If you don’t have a cell phone, you may want to consider getting a disposable one.

Make sure someone knows you are going out on a date, where you are going and whom you are going with. It might also be a great idea to arrange one of your friends to call you half an hour after the date starts in the event you want an excuse to bolt. It’s also a wonderful idea to call someone after your date and let them know you have arrived home safely.

Never send money to anyone you meet online! Never!!!! If a person is asking your for money, you can be fairly certain they are working a scam and they have you in their sights. If anyone you are communicating with online asks you for money, you may want to consider ending the relationship sooner rather then later.

Finally you should always ask lots of questions before going out with anyone you meet online. Scam artists may not have answers for all of your questions or they may consider you to be more trouble then you are worth. If anything the person says to you sounds even remotely suspicious you should immediately terminate the discussion.

These five rules should help you ensure your safety. Remember to use your common sense and a healthy amount of skepticism. Online dating can be just as safe as meeting someone in a bar on a Friday night if you approach it in the right manner.

Gary Kelly is co-creator of the online dating website for golfers,

Most bridal shows are scheduled in the months of January and August. Tickets are usually between $5.00 and $10.00 with a one or two dollar discount if you purchase your tickets online before the event. Prizes may be offered for the first 100, 200 or 500 brides to attend, which usually includes a copy of a major bridal magazine such as “Modern Bride,” a local bridal guide, a pin that says “Bride to Be,” as well as tickets for drawings and sweepstakes.

The most recent bridal show I attended started at 11:00 and ended at 5:00. They had a mini bridal fashion show that started at noon and showcased about 20 wedding gowns from one of the exhibitors. The “Runway Fashion Show” which included more gowns and tuxedos was scheduled for 3:00. The prize drawings were announced at 2pm and 4pm. Having arrived at 11:00, my guests and I had visited all the exhibitors, watched the mini fashion show, and were done by around 12:30. I recommend going to bridal shows later in the day in order to be there for the main events and giveaways. Also, I noticed that there were plenty of free magazines, buttons, and gifts for people arriving after 12:30.

Expect to see a multitude of local photographers at any bridal show you attend. You will be a little overwhelmed by their displays, but spend a little time looking through their photo albums, which contain some of their most personal and unusual candid shots. You will have fun sampling wedding cakes from all the local bakeries. Even better, is seeing new trends in wedding cakes. I saw rich, brown layered cakes with gold leaf accents, and bold, bright colors such as magenta, purple and hot pink.

Unless you want to be bombarded with phone calls and emails from wedding professionals, be careful about the forms you fill out for the exhibitors. My daughter filled out a form for a free cruise giveaway. She was called after the show and asked for her credit card number over the phone. Remember, that even if you “win” something, it may be a $500 discount off of a $2,000 photography package.

Being able to talk to so many wedding professionals in one place is very beneficial. Looking at companies online, who all claim to be the best at what they do, is impersonal and confusing. The exhibitors are friendly and helpful. You will be able to determine for yourself whether you like the taste and look of their cakes, or the design of their flower arrangements. You may not win a prize, but you will come home with a free magazine, some referrals, and some great new ideas for your wedding.

Kathleen Terrana is the owner of

If you are a Christian and you have been searching the Christian personals and web sites trying to find a mate but you haven’t talked to God about it at all, you are wrong. God was the one who decided that “it is not good for the man to be alone.” ( Gen 2) There is plenty of scripture to support the fact that God is interested in whom you marry and is more than willing to help you find the person who would be your perfect mate. I believe that He has created someone especially for each one of us.

It May Take A While – Patients and Fellowship are Important

You must learn to wait on God. You must be in a habit of praying and fellowshipping with Him. To be a Christian means that at some point in your life you have come to the knowledge that you are a sinner, and that Yeshua (Jesus) died for your sin and has restored you back into a right standing with God. This began a new relationship between God and you. You have been born again and are a new creation. You have the ability to fellowship with God and, indeed you should do so as often as possible. This is the only way you will ever begin to know what God’s plan is for your life. This is the only way you will find out who God has chosen as your mate. The best part of doing it this way is you will get a deeper understanding of who God is and His love for you.

He Cares for You

God was willing to send His Son to die for your sin. Undoubtedly He cares for you. As a matter of fact He cares about every detail of your life. Psalm 37:5 Says to “Commit evrything you do to the Lord, Trust Him, and he will help you.”(NLT) This is why you should be praying if you desire marriage. Commit this task to the Lord and He will help you to meet the person who was made just for you. The same goes for every area of your life.

If you have prayed continue to pray and wait. It will not be guess work with the Lord. When the time is right He will let you know. Timing is everything. As you continue to pray you may hear the answer at some point. You may all of a sudden know that God has answered your prayer. When this happens you MUST continue to WAIT. Many times people (me) will assume that they know the timing of God. When this happens the potential is there to step outside of the plan of God in an effort to usher in more quickly what you have been praying for. You will for sure end up messing it up. It may cost you dearly.

Example

I had been praying for a wife for probably a year. At some point during prayer I knew that my prayer had been answered. He had found her and was probably preparing her. I got anxious. Suddenly there were many interested girls available to me. But God had given me some specific clues from scripture and, through vision as I meditated on His word. I presumed I understood God’s timing and in doing so presumed that one of these girls was the person for me.

I had prayed about a certain one of these girls who got really close to me. His answer: She just needs someone to talk to whom she can trust. Satisfied with His answer I proceeded to be just that. Then lust began. I went too far (sex). Confusion set in (lust or love). I prayed again about her. “Lord is she the one?” No answer. He’d already spoken. I prayed more. I should have followed peace. There was no peace. This should have been a clue. When you are in God’s will there is peace. I ended up following my own way and got married. This act cost me 10 years in a marriage that really ended after 6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths. (proverbs 3:5-6) God will not leave you hanging. He had told me his answer about this girl. I gave in to lust and followed my flesh. I should have continued to follow God’s instruction. I should have waited on God. I thought I knew what time it was and I got ahead of Him.

God really does know what is best for you. He plans only the best things for your life. I know this because even now He still wants to fulfill what He began with me so many years ago. I was shocked to find out that He was still interested in finishing what He started. But God is faithful and patient with us. My action took me 10 years out of the way of God’s plan. Even during that time he never left me and was always there to help. When the marriage ended He was there for me to pick up the pieces of my life.
Christians trust the Lord. He knows what and who is best for you. He has your best interest in mind. If you will let Him he will lead you through this life and bless your relationships, marriages, work and much more. The key is to remember that He should be at the center of your life. I leave you with one more scripture from God’s word.

Your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Matthew 6:33-34) NTL