Graduation Party 2011

Graduation – either from high school or college, is a big milestone in life. It definitely is a time for celebration!

Many graduating classes will do fundraisers to pay for one giant farewell party for the entire class, and then have smaller and more intimate celebrations to include their families and closer friends. In most communities high school grads spend the entire summer going from one graduation party to another. It’s almost a right of passage.

Since a graduation party is centered around the graduate and their friends, you will want to elicit the input of your graduate to coordinate your guest list, party theme and schedule. Coordinating party dates and times is essential here, since so many parties will be taking place you don’t want your party to be scheduled at the same time as someone else’s.

Planning a graduation party is like any other big event. You must first put together a guest list, keeping your budget in mind. You’ll need to find a venue, either an open house, backyard or park. Plan a theme, and coordinate your invitations, favors and menu around that theme.

Individual graduation parties will usually have photos of the graduate all around, and a guest book displayed, probably along with a yearbook, so everyone can put down their thoughts and wishes for the future.

A cooler for drinks is essential. You can have a menu as simple as cake, or cupcakes, and ice cream, or have a potluck/cookout. Summer menus are usually simple, and with the teens party hopping they will not eat a great deal at any one place.

It’s always nice to have a few trinkets (favors) to give out to the graduates attending your party. It doesn’t have to be expensive gifts. Something along the lines of lanyards, silicone wristbands, water bottles, beads with the graduation year, or small graduation photo frames will do nicely, and not wreck our budget.

Graduation parties are usually casual, so if you plan ahead you will be able to sit down and enjoy the event as much as the graduates do – after all, it’s a milestones for you too!

Create An Oriental Theme To Your Spring Wedding

There is nothing more lovely for a Spring wedding than a Asian-inspired theme accented with Cherry Blossoms. It is not only delicate, but serene in nature – the perfect Zen atmosphere for a new beginning.

Said to be a sign of good fortune, an emblem of love and affection, and a treasured harbinger of spring, the unique cherry blossom design makes these a perfect choice as a wedding theme design.

Colors of pale pink and white with brown accents allow for a simple, yet elegant, decorating scheme. Coordinating Cherry Blossom themed items are easy to find, since this theme is very popular for all cultures.

This is not an overpowering decorating theme, it needs to be incorporated in subtle ways – in cakes decorated with the blossoms and topped with a double happiness topper, in favors, and bridal ensembles. They are basic white, with accents that don’t overwhelm.

Place paper lanterns or parasols hanging on light strings around your reception room. Perch origami cranes (traditionally made by the bride and groom) as a symbol of a happy marriage, on centerpieces made of bamboo stems and orchids.

Fortune cookie-shaped place card holders assign seats to your guests, and add ceremonial chopsticks at each place setting to complete the Oriental theme.

An Oriental wedding is full of symbolism for happiness, love and a successful marriage, and is a perfectly lovely way to start off your new journey.

Raising Money for your Prom

A Prom is the biggest social event of the school year, and if you are a Senior it is the last hurrah before graduation.

Proms, however, is expensive to put on, so many schools hold fundraisers in order to raise the money to keep the ticket costs down.

Fundraisers can be held at lunch time, after school, or on weekends, and there are a variety of different things that can be done in order to raise the money. Here are a few examples:

• A car washes or bake sale (doesn’t raise a lot of money)
• Large yard sale - where people donate items they don’t want and the Prom committee keeps the proceeds.
• Personalized Water bottles with the school name and logo, or special design and text, or sell other favors that are fairly inexpensive when purchased in quantities, and can be sold at a higher price for profit.
• Entirely edible Picture cookies
• Sponsor a street dance in the school’s parking lot or in the gym (more casual than the prom, and charge admission at the door)
• Have a talent show – give a prize to the winner (or book them as part of the talent at your prom)
• Hold a mini-500 – where students ride tricycles around the school track.

Any of these will help you bring in some bucks, and nothing says raising money can’t be fun!

Wedding Dress Shopping On A Budget

Your wedding is a day devoted especially to you and your partner. Most women dream, from a little girl on up, as to what their wedding will be like, who they will marry, and the dress they will wear.

As we entertain the idea of getting married we look at bridal magazines, bridal shops and online to see what is in style, what you think will look like your dream on you, and only when you are down to actually shopping for the dress do you get "sticker shock."

Weddings are getting more expensive each year, not only with inflation but with the many items a bride thinks she needs to have to make her day perfect. There are all the arrangements for the service and the reception, picking the caterers and cake decorators, choosing a theme (optional), who to invite, room decorations and favors, showers, etc. So much to think of and there never seems to be enough time.

Even with all these arrangements, though, the wedding dress is the center of attention. If you have the money to purchase a couture fashion you are lucky. If not, you are always on the lookout for that dress that will make you feel like the princess of your dreams.

In this day and age, finding a wedding dress online that can be handmade to fit is not that difficult. It is always a good idea to find a style you like at the local bridal shops, then comparison shop online for a style similar.

Online dress shopping does not have to be a nightmare. If you take careful measurements (making sure you have a well-fitting bra when you take the measurements), and following the directions on the website will guarantee you will get the right size. If your body falls in between sizes, go up. It's a lot easier to take a dress in than it is to let it out. Keep in mind that not all manufacturers size their dresses the same, so measurements are especially important.

Unfortunately, due to theft, and abuse, most dress sales online are final. There are a few exceptions, however, so read the fine print carefully before selecting.

Feel comfortable with your purchase, it is the most important dress you may ever wear.