When it's your day to shine, make it sparkle from beginning to end! It's easy to do with Swarovski crystals--perhaps the best-known name in the crystals game. Swarovski crystals are expertly faceted and polished to create the world’s finest-quality crystals, and they are used in so much more than simply jewelry. Crystals have been incorporated into a variety of products, and wedding accessories are no exception.

The crystals alone can't do it, but those crystals can have a dramatic impact on every part of your wedding. Though I'm going to show you five options for using crystals in your wedding, for each one I show you, there are probably five more--crystals in your toasting flutes, crystals on your wedding gown, crystals on your bridal shoes, crystals on your unity candles, crystals in your wedding favors--the list goes on.

Ceremony and Reception Essentials

Let's start with "Starlight" Wedding Accessories Collection (above left,) a crystal-studded, coordinated collection that includes a ring-bearer pillow, a guest book and pen, flower-girl basket, unity candle with tapers, a keepsake garter and a tossing garter. Your style shines with this set!

Hair Crystals

There's a growing trend among brides who prefer not to wear veils, but they still want their hair and face to be beautifully adorned. Some are putting fresh flowers in their hair, and others are choosing crystal, pearl and feather-decorated hair pins, combs and even tiaras. And there's no rule that says you can't use crystal combs and hair pins to enhance your veil. Once again, you have an opportunity to let your creativity shine!

Bouquet Crystals

I absolutely love this idea. You can add sparkle to your bridal bouquet with Swarovski crystal stems. Choose from rhinestone hearts or butterflies, or just choose some stems with crystals to match your color scheme! If you want to really personalize your bouquet, you can find your initials in crystals that insert into your bouquet. For even more sparkle, you can carry your bouquet down the aisle with crystal-studded bouquet holders. Crystals and flowers naturally enhance each other, so if you've chosen floral centerpieces, you might want to add crystal stems to those as well.

Cake Toppers

Brides are also moving away from the traditional, tiny bride and groom atop the wedding cake. Instead they're opting for something more contemporary, and this is another fabulous way to let crystals mesmerize your guests with their glistening beauty. The cake topper at the right features silver-finish metal letters decorated with Swarovski crystals, and you can customize your look by pairing two letters with the heart, two letters with the ampersand, or forming a monogram using three letters.

Bridesmaids Gifts

Well, I couldn't leave out jewelry, could I? Needless to say, you can find any type of crystal bridal jewelry imaginable. But I thought we'd take a look at a beautiful bridesmaid gift. The "Circle of Friendship" Personalized Bracelet not only lets you engrave your bridesmaids' initials on the sterling silver-plated disk--you can also choose crystals that match the personality or favorite color of each bridesmaid. At such a wonderful moment in your life, why not share the sparkle!

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Paper lanterns bring a tranquil, romantic ambience to any event, especially weddings! The soft glow alone is so soothing and sexy! They've been a decorative favorite in China for centuries, and now people around the world recognize their potential for event design.

Paper lanterns have flourished since the 2nd century in China. The Chinese are so captivated by the beauty of paper lanterns, they devoted their second most important holiday to the paper lantern--Lantern Festival. Covered with rice paper and dressed in a wide variety of styles, the lanterns are being used more and more for illumination, decoration and celebration. If you want to bring an inspiring elegance to your wedding reception, please think about paper lanterns. They're cost-effective and a delight for the eyes!

FIVE TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH PAPER LANTERNS

1. Before you choose the size of the paper lanterns, research the size of the room or the tent. You need to consider the height of the room and the placement of the lanterns.

2. To create dimension and depth, choose several different sizes of paper lanterns.

3. Hang the lanterns at varied heights for the most striking appearance.

4. White paper lanterns are most popular for weddings and receptions because of their versatility and elegance, whether lit or unlit.

5. Paper lanterns come in a variety of colors, so it's easy to coordinate with your color scheme and decor. To add sparkle and pizzazz, put low-watt colored light bulbs in white paper lanterns, which looks better than using colored paper lanterns.

Once you have your sea of paper lanterns above, you'll want to concentrate on complementary wedding centerpieces. Since you've created a "heaven" of dramatic orbs, think about balancing things out with centerpieces that are square. Add to the glow of the paper lanterns with beautiful, square pillar candles (left,) which also come in several sizes for an abstract look. You can even mix them with round candles just to be different. Classic square, glass vases (right) vary in size, too, and they let you bring even more dazzle to your color scheme with flowers, glass bead stems or lucky bamboo shoots.

Your guests will be talking about your nuptials for weeks afterward, and your paper lanterns will come in handy for other celebrations throughout your lives together!

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My love affair with pants is deep-seated and goes back a long way. When I was in K-12 school, girls weren't allowed to wear pants. It was either skirts or dresses. My chubby legs and I hated it, but we got through it. I did, however, swear to myself that, unless it was absolutely necessary or I just felt like it, I would never wear a dress or skirt again. A few decades later, I'm proud to say I've stuck to my decision, and I've loved every minute of it. I'm certain I've spent 97% of those years in pants. Yes, I wore pants for my wedding and, if you're a maverick with a free spirit and a sense of style, you can, too. Though I admit your options for bridal pants suits are few and far between, they are out there--and most of them are gorgeous!

Make Your Grand Entrance In Manolo Blahnik

You know Manolo--"Sex and the City" and the whole shoe thing. Well, Manolo does bridal wear also, and he's the designer of the sweet little number at upper left. The first thing that comes to mind when you see that photo is, hmmmm, a veil would look pretty stupid with a pants suit. Well, if you're willing to give up the dress, you should be willing to let the veil go, too. Fortunately, there are some other beautiful ways to adorn your hair. I think this hair jewelry is beautiful, feminine and the perfect complement to a bridal pants suit. Here are just a couple of ideas...

As the self-coronated "pants princess," I think those of you who don't live in the fairy tale would look absolutely smashing in a bridal pants suit. They're comfortable, chic, and with some imagination and a few accessories you should be able to wear it for other dressy (or rather, "pantsy") occasions. Speaking of "chic," you and your avant-garde spirit should buy your bridesmaids gifts with the same flair. My Wedding Favors has a sexy selection of bridesmaids gifts. Have a look at this spicy, bejeweled Bridesmaid Tank Top (left) and the seductive Pearl Drop Necklace and Earrings Set. You can't go wrong with either one! And remember--take a chance on pants!

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Do I get paid for going to weddings? No, so I guess I'm not a professional in the true sense of the word. But I do leave the weddings with wedding favors so, in a way, I do get paid--for doing something I totally enjoy!

I have a huge family and friends in every corner of the globe, and I'm invited to an average of 14 weddings a year. Do I go to all of them? Yes--unless I'm invited to two on the same day, which does occasionally happen. By the way, my name is Violet, I'm a true romantic and I love weddings! And after so many weddings (and bridal showers) year after year, I've become something of a bridal shower favor and wedding favor expert.

Jayne has invited me to share what I've learned with you, and I'm thrilled to do it! For starters, I think you should know that most shower and wedding guests, including me, are a little disappointed when we leave an event empty-handed. I enjoy receiving a "thank you" favor from the bride and groom or shower host that makes the memories last longer for me.

My Favorites?

So what kind of favors do I like best? It depends. It depends on the favor, how well it goes with the theme and decor and what happens when I take it home. Now's as good a time as any to start with my favor stories, and I'll begin with a bridal shower--for a bride-to-be who had never cooked a day in her life! Naturally, it was a kitchen shower. My cousin Beth had gone from home, where her Mom always made the meals, to college, which meant cafeteria food, eating out and ordering in, to career--during which she continued her love affair with restaurants and ordering in. But is was her love affair with Jason that brought us to this happy day.

Her friends threw her a kitchen shower, and she got cookbooks out the yingyang! She also got a good start on all the things she'd need for a well-equipped kitchen. I got her a set of really good knives, because I know they make all the difference in the world when you're cooking. And I must tell you, the favors were outstanding--practical, pretty and beautifully gift-boxed!

Cute Kitchen Gadgets!

We found two different favors on the tables--both useful kitchen gadgets--and, believe it or not, the gift packaging of both favors was coordinated. In fact, Beth's friends used the gift packaging for their decor and color scheme for the party--red, black and white, with black-and-white checks. Check out the "A-Peel to My Heart" Stainless-Steel Peeler and "A Slice of Love" Pizza Cutter! And, as you might have guessed, they served pizza. I can only hope, after getting all the recipe books, appliances and kitchen gadgets, that Beth and Jason's first pizza at home is homemade! I also hope Jason's health insurance is up to date!

That was fun! I'll be back soon with some more "confessions!" Meanwhile, keep saying "I do" to love and life!

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I briefly passed through Amish country in Pennsylvania once, very long ago, and I only remember how peaceful it seemed. The little bit I know about the Amish came to me from television and a few articles here and there, but I recently found some interesting information about Amish weddings and wedding feasts, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Wed on a Weekday

Did you know that most Amish weddings take place in November or December, after the harvesting season is over? And while most of us look for weekend dates for our weddings, among the Amish Tuesdays or Thursdays are the popular days of the week to get married because a full day before and after are needed to prepare for the Amish wedding, and this can never include a Sunday. The wedding ceremony and feast are typically held in the home of the bride's parents.

The day before the Amish wedding, married couples in the Amish community help the bride to prepare the food for the wedding celebration. This is one of the few days where the Amish men assist the women in the kitchen. I can only imagine how amazing an undertaking this must be. There's a lot to be said for catering your own wedding feast, especially when it includes amazing comfort foods like roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, salads, creamed celery, cheese, bologna, bread, butter, honey, jelly, fruits, pudding, cakes, pies, and ice cream. And from what I've read, Amish cooking is absolutely luscious! One of their traditional wedding foods is a date pudding with sauce--it may be a butterscotch or caramel or some other divine sauce. I'll give you a recipe in a moment.

But first, here's why they need the day after the wedding--most Amish wedding celebrations usually go on late into the night with singing, talking and game-playing. The Amish don't do honeymoons. The newlywed Amish couple usually spends their first night in the bride’s home so they can help with the clean-up the next day. I don't know what they do with the leftovers, but they can feel free to send them my way. Now, as promised, a recipe for Amish date pudding, and after that--a couple of ideas for fall and winter wedding favors!

DATE-NUT PUDDING WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Ingredients :
1 c. dates, cut up
1 c. boiling water
1 c. sugar
1-1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
1 egg
Pinch of salt
CARAMEL SAUCE:
1/2 c. cream
1/2 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar
Pinch of salt

Preparation :
Pour boiling water over dates and let cool. Add sugar, flour, nuts, butter, vanilla, soda, egg and salt to date mixture and blend well. Bake in a 9 x 13 inch greased and floured pan at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. When cool, break into pieces and fold in caramel sauce. Cook the caramel sauce until it candies. Cool before folding into date pudding; add sliced bananas and whipped cream when ready to serve.

If this recipe tastes as good as it sounds, it's totally irresistible, just like these favors for fall and winter--

The Fall-Leaf Tea Light and Place Card/Photo Holder (left) reminds me so much of autumn--brilliantly colored leaves and cozy fires. As I've always said, fall is my favorite season, followed by winter with its wonderful holidays and beautiful snow. MyWeddingFavors.com has just added some new winter favors, and this "Snow Flurry" Flocked-Glass Ornament Place Card/Photo Holder (right) is one of my favorites. You can certainly see why! Meanwhile, if any of you make the Date-Nut Pudding recipe, let me know how you like it. I'll probably make it, too, sometime in the fall. It just sounds like the perfect coo-weather dessert!

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Have you noticed that voting has become something of a phenomenon in the US over the past few years? Yes, we've always had political voting--although this year's presidential race has people chomping at the bit to get into that voting booth. I'm talking about voting on a less world-changing level, like American Idol, Big Brother, Kids' Choice Awards--the list goes on. People of all ages now have opportunities to vote on all kinds of things, and they do vote by the millions. Now theknot.com says the latest wedding trend is having your wedding guests vote on the song for your first dance at your wedding via wedding Web sites. I guess I get it. Voting makes people feel like they have a say in the lives of others, and they also get to chime in with their preferences.

Why Stop There?

They don't. In fact, theknot.com says they "love the idea of setting up wedding polls on your website and asking your guests to vote" for their favorite cake flavor, entree choices, centerpiece flowers or color schemes and decor. Of course, you're in no way obligated to go with the majority on any of these things unless you really like what wins. Whatever you choose, some guests will feel like they had an influence on your wedding planning when their entree preference is set before them, or when they bite into the chocolate-raspberry cake they voted for. WhooHoo!

Okay. Now that we're in voting mode, I'd like you to vote on the fall wedding favor you'd most like to receive at a wedding this autumn. You have three choices, complements of MyWeddingFavors.com. Just use the comment section below to weigh in. I'd really like to know which one is your favorite and why. Here are your choices:

"Autumn Branches" Bronze-Finish Metal Photo Frame/Place Card Holder (Left)
"Autumn Elegance" Laser-Cut Fall Leaf Favor Box (Center)
"Lustrous Leaf" Copper-Finish Bottle Stopper (Right)

Thanks for voting--especially in November's election!

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It's hard to believe that one of your dearest friends would say "no" to the honor of being a bridesmaid in your wedding, but I'm here to tell you it's happening more and more. Even at the risk of damaging a longtime friendship, many women are unwilling to accept the financial obligation that goes along with what is becoming a dubious "honor." Let's see--there's the dress, the shoes, the hair, the make-up, the nails, the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, a wedding gift. If it's a destination wedding, there's airfare, accommodations, food. Bridesmaids are often out $1000 to $2000 or more, and all they get in return is a chartreuse dress they'll never wear again. It's easy to understand why, after one or two stints as a bridesmaid, some women will opt out of the bridesmaid business.

If you want your friends to say "yes" to the chartreuse dress, I have a few suggestions that will help get them to gladly participate in your wedding. Make sure they know, up front, how you plan to work with them:

1. Choose wisely. Ask only the friends you really want standing next to you--longtime, close friends who would be devastated if you didn't ask them--especially if it's a destination wedding, where the expenses will rise dramatically.

2. Keep the bridesmaids' dresses under $200. If at all possible (and it always is,) select a design that's stylish and appropriate for other occasions.

3. Don't require particular shoes. You can request white shoes or black shoes, but let them wear what's in their closet rather than having to purchase a special pair.

4. Let your bridesmaids wear their own jewelry, or give them special jewelry as a bridesmaids gift.

5. Let your bridesmaids do their own hair, make-up and nails, or pick up the tab for the salon.

6. Insist on a low-key bachelorette party. Have a dinner where everyone (but the bride, of course,) pays for themselves. Go dutch (except for the bride) for a night on the town. Put a fun veil on a baseball cap or funky headband for the bride to wear. It's an easy way to score free drinks at some bars.

7. Don't take it personally if a friend declines the honor of being one of your bridesmaids. A happy occasion ceases to be happy if it plunges someone you love into debt.

8. Give them exceptional bridesmaids' gifts! Remember suggestion #4? If you want them to wear wonderful, matching jewelry, choose something beautiful as a gift from you. They'd love this elegant pearl necklace with crystal accents and matching earrings from MyWeddingFavors.com, where you can also find a wonderful selection of more casual, everyday jewelry for your bridesmaids. Since they'll be doing their own make-up, I'm sure they'd love to have something just made for moving mascara, eyeliner and all the rest from place to place, which makes this monogrammed, hanging cosmetic case a perfect and personal bridesmaids gift.

Use these tips to make your best girlfriends an offer they won't refuse!

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Okay. Now I want to get married again (even though the first one "took,") because I want this couple to design wedding invitations for me! Seattle-based designer Matt and his wife, Tere Mendez, make wedding-poster invitations, and they are beyond cool! A poster-size version of the invitation at the left hangs over the couple's bed.

When Matt isn't creating wedding-invitation posters, he designs poster art for bands--so I suspect he's kept pretty busy in Seattle. You can find more information at their Web site, posterbride.com. The invitation-design process can be done via email, so you don't have to live in the area to get this innovative team to hook you up with wedding invitations that will truly be keepsakes. Don't be surprised if your family and even some friends request poster-size versions.

With wedding invitations as cool as this, I'd want my wedding favors to be equally as cool. That's why I'd head to MyWeddingFavors.com for wedding favors that rock. Okay, maybe I'm getting a bit too literal here, but wouldn't it be a hoot to complement those spectacular invitations with "Love Rocks" Engraved, Polished Stones (left)? Okay. But I think any couple who chooses to have poster artwork for their wedding invitations intends to have a blast on their wedding day, which leads me to this next fun favor--"Have a Blast!" Wedding Poppers (right.) Either way, you'll bring the house down!

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Actually, Hallmark did the favor for everyone (and there's a lot of us) who have been invited to the weddings of gay friends. Instead of spending hours at the card store's "Wedding" section going through every card to find one that didn't have the image of a man and woman, or say "husband and wife" or some other man/woman reference, we can find a card with the perfect sentiment now that Hallmark is putting same-sex wedding cards on their shelves.

According to the Associated Press, Hallmark says the move is "a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure." Their goal is to be as relevant to as many people as they can, which explains their more recent cards for difficulty getting pregnant, going through rehab, and coming out. (Not out of rehab, out of the closet.)

If you read the newspapers or catch a newscast once in a while, you already know there's a growing market for same-sex cards, not just for weddings, but for a number of other life events. Gay couples are having babies or adopting every day, and it should be easy to find congratulatory cards for them. The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that more than 85,000 same-sex couples in the US have entered into a legal relationship since 1997, and they estimate nearly 120,000 more couples will marry in California during the next three years. Ellen Degeneres and Porti DeRossi kicked it off in grand style just a week or two ago. Don't you think it's about time this country put its money where its mouth is and allowed all its citizens the same "pursuit of happiness" our Declaration of Independence promises?

Gay couples planning a wedding don't expect everything in their wedding to have a gay twist to it, with rainbows or paired male or female symbols on every item, so they'll easily find the right wedding favors. Here are a couple of favors, one elegant and one whimsical, that are designed to delight anyone and everyone--the "Love Dove" Chrome Bottle Opener and the Margarita Glass Gel Candle!

Let's hear it for everyone who finds lasting love!

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Hollywood marriages do seem to turn bad quickly, like fresh produce. One day a tomato is bright red, firm and delicious. A few days on your kitchen counter, and that tomato is shriveling, becoming a horrible dark color and growing fuzz. So what do you do? You throw it out and go get another one. Think Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman (10 days!) or Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock, not to mention that last guy she married after paying off a gambling debt with sexual favors. And haven't you noticed how many actors and actresses wind up dating (and sometimes marrying) the last person they appeared with in a movie? I have a theory about that. Most of these folks think that the love scenes they shoot with one another are real. They're sizzling hot together on the set, when someone is directing them. When there's no one there telling them what to do every time they have sex, they haven't a clue how to recreate that passion.

Some Long-Running Hollywood Marriages

Now remember--I said "most" don't know the difference between fantasy and reality. Several of them do and have had long-lasting marriages by Hollywood standards, and some even by the standards of everyone outside Hollywood. Leading the way with 50 years of marriage are Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, seen then and now on your left and right respectively. Whatever their secret is, it's apparently the best-kept secret in LaLaLand. Here's a list of 17 other Hollywood couples who have made it well past their paper (1st) anniversary:

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening (16 years)
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett (11 years)
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (20 years)
Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi (33 years)
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick (19 years)
Bill and Camille Cosby (44 years)
Dan Ackroyd and Donna Dixon (25 years)
Jay and Mavis Leno (28 years)
Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman (26 years)
Ron and Cheryl Howard (33 years)
John Travolta and Kelly Preston (16 years)
Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley (15 years)
Denzel and Pauletta Washington (25 years)
Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw (16 years)
Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates (18 years)
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan (20 years)

A Little Luck and Lots of Sense

So what do you think keeps these couples together when so many Hollywood pairs fall apart like a $100 automobile? I think it's communication, dedication, real love--and yes, just a bit of luck. I think we all need a bit of luck to stay together until...well, you know. I can't help with the communication, dedication and real love, but I've got my eye on a couple of wedding favors that might help out in the "luck" department. I love these "Perfectly Suited!" Glass Place Card/Photo Holder Coasters (left,) and the "Lucky in Love" Dice Favor Boxes (right.) You can find them--and so much more--at MyWeddingFavors.com, where fabulous wedding favors are just the beginning of a fabulous marriage!

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When you think about it, you realize that almost all your wedding planning revolves around your wedding date. Venues, caterers, officiants need to know your date before they can commit their services. Before you just close your eyes, flip open a calendar and point to a date, consider these few bits of wedding-date wisdom:

PRICE

I thought I'd begin with price, since everyone is so cost-conscious these days. Limos take gas, you know. If you want to marry in June, August and September--prime-time wedding months--expect to pay higher prices. Pick a date in January, March or December when venues, caterers and other wedding services will be duking it out for your business.

SYMBOLISM

You can up the romance factor by marrying on the day you met, the day you shared your first kiss or got engaged. Some couples even check horoscopes to find the ideal date to wed. How about choosing the month you were born and the day he was born, or vice versa? If your wedding date does have special symbolism, be sure to share it with family and friends, perhaps in the invitations, during the ceremony or at the reception.

SEASON
Here's where your style and personality come in! Maybe summer's your season, with its "vacation" attitude, hot weather and invitation to outdoor-fun. Sounds like a beach wedding to me! Cold-weather enthusiasts who love the romance of a gentle snowfall will choose cozy, cost-effective winter for their wedding. If you want to go for symbolism, spring is certainly the season of new beginnings. With cooler weather, colorful flowers in bloom and the world turning green again, a spring wedding is in your future. Then there's my personal favorite--autumn. Trees ablaze with color, nostalgia and a touch of magic in the cool, crisp fall air. No matter which season you choose, there's always the perfect wedding favor waiting for you at MyWeddingFavors.com. Watch this: Summer--"Turnin' Up the Heat" Hot Sauce! Winter--"Snowfall" Glass Coasters! Spring--"Butterfly" Bookmark! Fall--"Autumn Branches" Bronze-Finish Place Card Holder/Photo Frame!

HOLIDAYS

People will warn you that if you marrry on a holiday, and the marriage doesn't last "until death do you part," that holiday is ruined for you forever. Baloney! Even though fall is my favorite season, I married in February on Valentine's Day. Of course, I'm still married, so I really don't know if Valentine's Day would suck if we weren't still together. But we get over things, don't we? Life--and love--can both go on. Sometimes, marrying on a holiday weekend, like July 4 or Labor Day, gives your guests three days to enjoy themselves instead of having to hurry home. Christmas and New Year's Eve weddings can be exquisite, and Halloween weddings can be a hoot! Of course, you have to consider that some people might have long-standing plans for some holiday weekends, so go with what excites you!

VIP REQUIREMENTS

If your parents, his parents or some other "can't say 'I do' without them" individuals can only come at a certain time, you might want to schedule your wedding to accommodate them. If you have several people like that to accommodate, and the dates don't jive, just decide who's most important and choose your date accordingly. There will always be some people who won't be able to attend.

NO WAY ON THIS DAY!

Be mindful of religious holidays, and stay away from April 15 (income tax day). You'll have a reception full of stressed-out tax-payers, including yourself!

Whatever day you choose, just remember why you're there, and everything will be absolutely wonderful. If you've already chosen your wedding date, I'd love to know why you chose that date? I promise to publish a few special stories!

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So it's a couple of months before your Caribbean beach wedding, and you've been spending so much time planning the wedding, you haven't had a chance to get out and enjoy the summer sun. One look in the mirror and--eewwwwwww. You've just dicovered your skin is as pale as the shell of an egg.

So what are your tanning choices?

Get outside immediately and soak up as many rays as you can in twenty minutes before your next fitting. Or you can do it with bronzing make-up on the day of your wedding--but fair warning: if you sweat or cry, that bronzer is going to turn that white gown to brown. There's always a tanning booth, and perhaps the easiest of all--the spray-on tan. Spray-on tans have become extremely popular, especially with celebrities who want that California look without benefit of sun, which, as we all know, eventually turns your skin to leather if you soak up too much of it.

The truth about spray-on tans

The tanning salon is quick to point out that the chemical that turns you brown--dihydroxyacetone, or DHA--has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA,) and using DHA is also recommended by the Skin Cancer Organization, American Academy of Dermatology, The American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association.

What tanning salons don't tell you

As a service to brides-to-be everywhere, I want to alert you to a little-known danger of spray-on tans--the kind you get at a tanning service, where you go into a booth and get spray-painted like a car. DHA is cheap, fun and it makes you look great. But your tanning salon may not warn you to hold your breath. According to the Food and Drug Administration, DHA could be hazardous if inhaled or swallowed. There's no way to know because DHA was never tested for internal use, only external. The FDA has sent out a warning about DHA, recommending people cover their eyes, plug their nose, and protect their lips whenever using spray tans. Just keep that in mind when you step into the tanning booth.

You're going to be a beautiful bride, whether your skin is as bronze as a third-place Olympic medal or as pale as a priceless, porcelain doll's. And your long-awaited destination wedding on the beach will be everything you dreamed it would be--assuming you're planning to thank your guests with delightful beach wedding favors. Here are just a couple of choices to tempt you, but there are dozens more at MyWeddingFavors.com. The Margarita Glass Gel Candle in its clever tiki hut gift box (left) is always a big hit. And have you ever seen a more perfect destination/beach wedding favor than the Flip-Flop Luggage Tag? You're going to have the time of your life, and remember--when the guests have taken their fabulous wedding favors and gone home, you'll be alone on the beach with the man you're meant to be with, getting tan the way Mother Nature intended. Hmmm, on second thought, you're on your honeymoon, so maybe you won't be on the beach...oh, nevermind! Just have fun!

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Have I got a gift registry for you! How many times have you wanted or needed something to prepare for a new baby or your new marriage, but it simply doesn't exist on a registry? I'm talking about things like recipe cards for the newlyweds, a fair-trade product (produced by fairly paid workers) like an imported rug, a homemade wedding cake, homemade dinners from friends when you're home recovering from your special delivery, babysitting services after the baby's born or maybe even a tree planted in your backyard so you can hang a tire swing from it someday. How do you ask for gifts of time, expertise or eco-friendly items? These are gifts registries don't offer--until now!

Gifts to Match Your Values

If you want gifts that focus on the bond you share with loved ones, rather than something that costs a bundle and may not be what you really want, the Alternative Gift Registry (alternativegiftregistry.org) is for you. Here's what they believe: "By encouraging non-material, second-hand, homemade, and environmentally friendly gifts, we seek to continue the proud tradition of gift-giving while helping celebrants focus on what matters most: a joyous commemoration with loved ones that honors the important moments in their lives." So often, non-material gifts are the most precious and helpful to young couples starting out and first-time parents. Who couldn't use a stack of recipe cards for delicious, easy-to-make meals or a cleaning service for a couple of months?

You can list other unusual or eco-friendly gifts, and you can link to the Web pages that offer what you prefer. The registry allows you to add text for the items you desire, so you can be very specific about what you need and even explain why you want it and how you'll use it. The Web site also provides suggestions for "green" celebrations and gift ideas. In fact, one of the wedding favor ideas they recommend is seed packets.

Eco-Friendly Seed Packets and Plantables

Not only are there eco-friendly seed packets and plantable favors available for your events, you can easily match your color scheme and decor. The "Our Love Grows!" Flower Seed Packets (left) let you choose the ribbon color for your vellum seed packets. When you choose the "Love Grows!" Plantable Hearts(right,) you have several colors to match your wedding decorations or baby shower decorations.

I think the Alternative Gift Registry is an idea whose time as definitely come, and I also believe it will change the nature of gift-giving in the future!

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All Orthodox Jewish, conservative and evangelic Christian, and Islamic brides-to-be--this is for you! It never occurred to me how difficult it might be for you to find a modest wedding gown for your ceremony in your church, synagogue or mosque until I found this story in the pressofatlanticcity.com. An Englewood, NJ woman has designed a line of gowns for brides who want modest, yet glamorous, dresses. She "knows there's a niche there," and she's going after it.

Who Knew?

I've been researching and writing for the wedding industry for quite a while now, and I could have sworn there were plenty of "demure" wedding dresses out there for women who don't want to be "fully exposed." So I did what I thought would be a brief Internet search to find dozens of wedding gowns with higher necklines, long sleeves and covered backs. Brief turned into more than half an hour, and even a Web site called totallymodest.com only had one or two dresses with long sleeves. David's Bridal has hundreds of gowns, and I found maybe two or three max there that could be considered modest or demure. Almost every dress was either strapless, bare-backed, sleeveless or revealed some serious cleavage. Don't get me wrong--they're gorgeous gowns and mainstream brides have endless options. But I admit I was quite surprised at the dearth of demure wedding gowns.

The Growing Trend

Apparently, there's a growing demand for modest versions of bridal gowns, but the industry as a whole hasn't noticed. Up until now, many religious brides-to-be have found it necessary to make serious alterations to existing gowns (higher necklines, longer sleeves) to get what they want. One national wedding gown chain even retains matching fabrics and seamstresses at their stores for exactly this purpose. So go for it, Tova Marc of Couture de Bride in Teaneck, NJ! You've definitely found your niche. It will be interesting to see if and when other designers follow suit.

MyWeddingFavors.com has long recognized that there's a large segment of brides-to-be whose traditional and religious values influence their wedding planning decisions. That's why they have a wide selection of elegant, traditional and even faith-based wedding favors. The "Timeless Traditions" Glass Photo Frame/Place Card Holder Coasters (left) look lovely on almost any traditional wedding reception table. A truly popular faith-based favor is the "Blessings" Silver Cross Bookmark in a Keepsake Book Box. In fact, it may be easier for you to find your ideal wedding favors than your dream wedding gown--at least for now.

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