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3 Amazing Places for Your Destination Wedding

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There are a lot of things you have to do before you are fully ready for your wedding. The dress, the wedding party, the music, the cake, but the thing you need to know first is the location. Often times, these places need to be booked so far in advance that the engagement ring is barely settled on your finger before you’re making that call. Some people prefer a more traditional venue, or a local place such as a courthouse or courtyard nearby. If you’re like me, though, you don’t want to get married in the same places you see every day on your way to work. You want your wedding to be special, memorable, and perfect. Let us help you out by showing you three of the most amazing and beautiful (not to mention exotic) places for your destination wedding.

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1. Kauai

If you’re looking for the perfect destination that is still in the States, Hawaii is the best place to go. It’s secluded, beautiful, and Kauai is less populated than the other islands, so you’re more likely to have a fun, intimate experience. Also, the resorts there are fantastic and have some incredible bundles for weddings.

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2. Italy

Nothing says ‘romance’ in quite the same way Italy does. From old, stone streets to beautiful vineyards, you are bound to find exactly the sort of location you want for your wedding. It has the old world charm. It has countless activities and other places to visit. It can even double as your honeymoon location.

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3. Bermuda

A lot of places have beaches. A lot of places have incredible venues. But not every place has beaches as beautiful nor venues as flawless as Bermuda. The resorts alone are reason for going, and you can easily find quaint little pubs in the small towns there that have delicious food and amazing company. Want to make your wedding even more romantic? Visit the pink-sand beaches. They are absolutely breath-taking.

There are so many places in the world that need to be visited, and so many of them are absolutely perfect for a wedding. Finding the perfect match for your needs won’t be too hard at all, and in no time, you’ll be on that plane heading for your destination wedding!

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The Benefits of Eating Chocolate

The month of February is often associated with Valentine’s Day, an occasion often celebrated with chocolate. Considering its historic use as an aphrodisiac, ability to improve mood, and potential heart health benefits, it is no wonder why this dark delight has long been linked to the celebration of love.

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Here are some benefits of eating chocolate include:

1. Improved mode, libido, and alertness

Eating chocolate releases chemicals in the brain that can help improve mode and libido. As well, its caffeine and threobromine content gives chocolate stimulant properties similar to coffee, which may help to improve alertness. This, in combination with the carbohydrate energy it supplies, makes chocolate a great snack for long romantic evenings.

2. Antioxidants

Chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which help repair damaged cells in the body and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease. However, antioxidant content varies greatly among chocolate products, with the least processed—i.e. cocoa powder and dark chocolate—being highest in flavonoid content and potential health benefits. For the greatest benefit, choose dark or unsweetened chocolate that lists 60% or more cocoa solids on the label.

Despite some health benefits of chocolate, it also contains compounds that are detrimental to health.

Cocoa butter—a saturated fat that can raise cholesterol—is a popular chocolate additive. As well, all chocolate is high in sugar, fat, and calories, which could all lead to increased weight and associated co-morbidities. Unfortunately, milk chocolate, white chocolate, or chocolates with any sort if additives (nuts, nougat, caramel, etc.) are low in flavonoid content and thereby lower in health benefit.

When weighing out the pros and cons, it is still best to enjoy chocolate in small quantities, particularly since research is insufficient to recommend chocolate for its health benefits benefits. If you do choose to indulge,

  • choose dark chocolate containing >60% of cocoa solids
  • use cocoa powder in beverages and baking to reduce the fat and calories content

The health benefit of flavonoids can also be reaped from consuming citrus fruits, apples, berries, nuts, grapes, green tea and onions. In addition, these foods provide other nutrients beneficial to overall health and can easily be incorporated into the daily diet without the drawbacks of chocolate.

If you have any questions about healthy eating, weight loss, chocolate or any other foods, Registered Dietitian Anna Gofeld will be more than happy to answer them for you.

~Live, love, laugh, and eat chocolate in moderation~

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Planning an Inexpensive Wedding

Weddings can be very expensive and not all of us have the funds available to pay $10,000 to $20,000 on the wedding of our dreams. However, there are many ways that we can trim these costs and still have a beautiful wedding that doesn’t break the bank.

The Wedding Gown

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While this is probably an area that you will want to splurge on, there are still ways that you can save on this important area. For example, you can purchase a dress that has been discounted or consider renting a gown rather than purchasing one.

The Reception

One of the most expensive aspects of the wedding process is the reception. One of the best ways to reduce the amount of money that is spent at the reception, consider only inviting a certain amount of people to the wedding. You can also consider providing less expensive food options instead of a three course meal as well.

Photography

You will obviously be looking to remember this special day and the photos that you take will be important. One way to save money is to shop around for a photographer with a better pricing structure. Most people also have family members who are fairly talented when it comes to photography and you may be able to hire someone you know at a discounted rate instead.

Invitations

There are so many different types and styles of wedding invitations that you will be able to find a beautiful option that is budget friendly. Be sure to look through your options and select one that fits best with your price range. You should also consider choosing an option that is made with less expensive materials as well.

Flowers

Carrying flowers and decorating with them has long been a wedding tradition, but it is also very expensive. You can easily save some money in this category by making a few simple changes however. For example, certain flowers cost more than others and you can save money by selecting a cheaper version.

The Cake

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Another expensive and crucial part of your wedding is the wedding cake. By cutting down on the number of people that you invite, you will also be able to cut down on the size of this expensive feature. You can also select a flavor that is untraditional to save money as well. While it may not be a traditional tasting wedding cake, it will still taste fantastic.

Decorations

When decorating for your wedding, you can save money if you are a little bit open about the decorations that you choose. For example, you can always make the decorations yourself from scraps of material and items that you find at a discount. Making a different centerpiece for each table is also a fantastic option and you may be able to find discounted single items at wedding shops or online.

Conclusion

When you are planning your wedding, it is likely that you will find many expenses that you are expected to cover. However, there are many ways that you can work your budget so that you will save the maximum amount of money.

Best for Bride

If you are looking for a huge selection of wedding supplies, gowns and décor, you should look no further than Best for Bride. This wedding store offers many different items that will help you to plan the wedding of your dreams. There are four locations to serve the brides of the area and you will be thrilled at the selection that is being offered.

 

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Easy Guide to Wedding Dress Trains

Should your wedding dress have a train? When considering whether or not to have a wedding dress with a train, the traditions, ease of use, and etiquette standards may seem a bit confusing. Some venues may make a train more difficult to manage than others. How important is train length? This easy guide to wedding dress trains may help clear up some of the misconceptions about wedding trains.

Wedding dress trains are becoming increasingly popular with recent celebrity weddings. This may have caused brides to take more notice of their wedding dress trains. Some brides may wonder if they should have a train or not. A long train on a wedding dress is a traditional, classic look. If the bride wants to emphasize a romantic, traditional wedding, she may want to consider having a dress with a long train.

Traditionally, a wedding dress with a train is not worn for a second wedding or vow renewal ceremony. However, brides who have their hearts set on having a dress with a train should not let tradition dictate their choice. Your wedding day is your special day. Make it what you want it to be.

Wedding gown trains come in different lengths. A wedding dress train that brushes across the floor a few inches is called a sweep. The sweep may be up to six inches long. The chapel train is one foot to eighteen inches long. A chapel train is very popular since it provides that traditional look while being easy to manage.

The longer cathedral train is at least twenty-two inches long. The cathedral train may be removable or have a bustling option to gather it up for manageability at the reception. Brides who want the classic train but don’t want one as long as a cathedral train may want a semi-cathedral train which is between chapel and cathedral train length. A royal or monarch train is the longest train length. These trains are several feet long. This is typically worn by royalty as the name implies.

A wedding dress train can be an issue for some venues such as an outdoor wedding at the beach or in the woods. Can you imagine trying to navigate thorns and branches with a cathedral train in tow? Consider the venue and your activities for the day when choosing what length of wedding train to have.

Brides who have trains of significant length probably will want to bustle their dresses after the ceremony. Some wedding gowns come with a bustle. If not, brides can prepare a wedding dress bustle by adding a hook and eye or loop to the dress prior to the wedding day. There are several styles of bustles. A certain type of bustle may work better for a wedding dress than the other types. Brides may want to discuss the wedding dress bustle with a seamstress.