1. Buy replicas. From a distance and to the undiscerning eye, cubic zirconia and crystal are indistinguishable from real stones. If you have fallen in love with a piece of fine jewelry you cannot afford, a similar piece made with these less expensive materials can look exquisite.

2. Opt for silver or gold-plated jewelry instead of solid gold or platinum. To a casual observer, the difference in quality is not obvious. Also, silver is perennially in style.

3. Consider inexpensive pearls (freshwater cultured pearls are generally cheaper than other types). Or, buy pearl-shaped crystals.

4. Ask for a discount if you plan to buy several pieces. Also, it cannot hurt to make an offer on a piece. Designers, online stores, and other independents have some latitude when pricing their goods.

5. Buy on eBay. There is always a wide variety of inexpensive pieces available through auction or eBay stores. Inventory changes constantly, so return often if you do not find the right piece on your first visit.

6. Rent jewelry for your wedding. If you must have fine jewelry but cannot afford it, rent pieces for the ceremony and reception.

7. Make your own jewelry. You will enjoy the added benefit of complete customization. Craft stores like Ben Franklin and Hobby Lobby have aisles dedicated to jewelry-making supplies. You can also purchase supplies on eBay.

8. Consider borrowing. Wearing a piece from Mom, Aunt Ellen, or a special friend can add sentimental value to the wedding while doing wonders for a strained budget.

There you have it! Eight ways to ease budget strain and still wear the perfect jewelry ensemble on your big day.

About the Author

Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, and tutorials. Read more about wedding jewelry (shopping tips, tradition, lengths, stones, etc.) at: http://www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com/jewelry

Earrings

Keep your dress and hairstyle in mind when you choose earrings. Chandelier or dangly earrings can look wonderful with an up do, but can become tangled if you wear your hair down. If your dress is elaborate, keep the earrings simple. Popular choices for a formal wedding include pearl studs, diamonds, and crystal solitaire earrings.

Hair Jewelry

Tiaras, hairpins, combs, and decorated headbands can all add interest and glamour to your wedding hair. If you choose an eye-catching piece, such as a crown-like tiara, let this be the central element in your jewelry ensemble. A subtle piece, like a pearl comb, can complement more elaborate jewelry.

Back jewelry

You can enhance the look of a backless or low-cut gown by wearing a back drop, backwards strands of opera-length pearls, or lariat. This also adds more interest for the guests during the ceremony.

Necklace or pearls

The necklace can be bold (to complement a simple wedding dress) or delicate (to balance the look of an elaborate gown). If your gown has an interesting neckline, you may want to go without. Keep in mind that different lengths work best with different necklines. Generally, leave a gap between the neckline and necklace. Alternately, you can wear long pearls or a necklace below the neckline if your dress is unadorned.

Wrist wear

Unless your dress is strapless, the general rule is to keep hands and wrists unadorned (except for the wedding ring set, of course). Or, wear a delicate bracelet as an accent piece. Too much “going on” around your wrists or hands will distract attention away from you and the gown, and fragment the look. The strapless gown is the exception. A cuff or other substantial bracelet can enhance bared shoulders and arms.

Earrings, necklace, hair jewelry, back jewelry, and bracelet. Wear all, some, or none. But keep in mind that together they should create a balanced look. Most importantly, the jewelry ensemble should reflect you and your personal style.

About the Author

Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at http://www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, and tutorials.

Perfect wedding hairstyles flatter your face, your wedding gown, and your veil. They suite your personality while accentuating your best features and minimizing your weak ones. Here are some suggestions for different kinds of hair.

- Hair swept back or up shows more of your face and profile. This style can be especially nice for formal or evening weddings.
- A wedding up-do will accentuate your neck. This look can range from a simple French twist to a stylish mass of ringlets.
- Hair worn down or loose has a more casual look, perfect for daytime, outdoor, and informal weddings.
- Long hair can be worn back, loose, braided, or entwined with beading or fabric that matches your gown.
- Medium-length hair is nearly as versatile as long. It can be curled, straightened, tucked behind your ears, or brushed loosely down.
- Even brides with short hair can have a long, thick wedding day hairstyle. Clip on hairpieces and extensions are available in a variety of colors and styles.
- Short hair can be versatile, from sleek styles to curly. Tiaras, decorative bobby pins, combs, and hair clips all look stunning worn in short hair.
- Bangs can be worn several ways: soft, fringy, angled, or textured. If you’ve never had bangs, experiment with them well in advance. If you’ve always had them, this is not the time to sweep them aside and bare your forehead.

Current styles are important, but should be secondary to what is right for you. Something may be “in” but all wrong for you or your dress. Whatever style you choose, have practice sessions in the week before your ceremony. Do this and your wedding day will most certainly be a fabulous hair day.

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Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at http://www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, and tutorials. Read more about wedding hairstyles and beauty at: http://www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com/beauty

· What matters most is that you are connected and together. The best way to do this is to make eye contact with your partner every now and then while you are dancing and to keep breathing.

· It’s natural to feel a bit nervous. Make sure you and your partner are encouraging each other and again, keep breathing. Most people stop breathing when they get nervous and that only makes it worse because you stop sending oxygen to your brain. Passing out is no way to end your first danceJ.

· When you walk out onto the dance floor together, stand up straight and hold your head high. This will give you an air of poise and confidence.

· Smile. Not a fake cheesy smile, but a genuine – “Gee, I’m married to this amazing person in my arms” smile. Even if you are trying hard to remember your steps…this is really important.

· Make sure to stay with your partner. Don’t try any fancy new moves on your wedding day. The wedding dance is not the time to pull out all the stops, it’s time to share your love for each other with the world.

· If you make a mistake, keep going. My motto is ‘Fake it til you make it” and it really works. Should you get totally lost, calmly pause, reconnect with your partner, and begin again.

· Your guests are not dance experts. You are not on “Dancing with the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance.” The idea is not to show of how skilled of dancers you are. The idea is to connect in this wonderful wedding tradition.

· Make sure you choose a first dance song that you can hear the beat easily and that inspires you.

A note about logistics: Make sure to tell your wedding videographer and photographer that you are going to dance and to make sure to capture this important part of the evening. It’s important to communicate this with them. Recently some students of mine were terribly disappointed when their videographer left for another wedding before they performed their first dance….and they had been taking lessons and practicing for months. Don’t let this happen to you.

Whether you take lessons in a studio, learn from a DVD, or just go it on your own, keep it fun, relaxed and simple and you’ll shine from the inside out as you express your love for each other through your first dance.

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Mary Pinizzotto is the Wedding Dance Expert. She has taught hundreds of couples to dance for their weddings. Her “First Dance Fabulous” ™ DVD and e-book provide everything you need to prepare for your first dance in hours not days from the comfort of your own home. www.weddingdanceexpert.com

When he’s not making maps, Shawn spends time with his wife and their two sons and new baby daughter. He’s a family guy at heart, and loves the fact that through Snappymap, he gets to be a helping hand to others as they start the journey to creating their own new families.

Our goals for this company and web site is to meet two large needs; help consumers that are looking for wedding services connect with top rated companies in their area, and help companies in the wedding industry effectively market their company successfully online.

We plan on meeting this need by:

• Regional Directory Information: Consumers searching for wedding related services in their city will find our list of wedding vendors. Consumers will have the ability to leave feedback fro each vendor and vendors with the best feedback will rank higher in our directory listings.
• Wedding Related Chat & Forum: Connect and chat about all things wedding related. Vent about stress, discuss your wedding theme, plans, even connect with vendors.
• Helpful Articles: Consumers and vendors alike will be able to post articles related to wedding advice and tips.
• Blog: Vendors will be able to post in our blog freely to create buzz and build link popularity for their web site.
• Newsletter Updates: Consumers can subscribe to our newsletters to receive discounts and promotional offers from our vendors.

Come back and visit us often for updates and more information!