wedding candle background

A wedding ceremony of any kind is steeped in traditions, sometimes religious and sometimes secular, which vary according to the particular backgrounds and desires of the bride and groom. A unity ceremony, as part of the wedding ceremony, acknowledges the contributions of the bride's family, the groom's family and sometimes their children, to the marriage.

There are two types of unity ceremonies that are popular as part of the modern American wedding ceremony. One unites the flames of 3 candles. It is of unknown origin and may have to do with African tribal traditions. The other uses the blending of different colored sands and likely has its origins in Hawaiian or Native American traditions. Regardless, they are both beautiful and meaningful.

Both ceremonies signify the new unity between a bride and a groom as well as the uniting of their two families. They may happen after the wedding rings are exchanged and before or after the pronouncement that the couple are husband and wife.

The Unity Candle Ceremony

For about 50 years in the U.S., couples in some church and secular wedding services have incorporated a unity candle ceremony. The roots of this ceremony are unclear, but may have borrowed from various African tribal traditions. One such tradition lights the couple's first hearth with fire from the hearths of the bride's and groom's families. In another tradition, a torch is handed from the bride's father to the groom, who in turn lights a ceremonial bonfire in the center of the village.

Some religious denominations have accepted this custom but others have not. This ceremony is usually recommended as part of an indoor wedding service as the flames can easily be blown out by wind.

The unity "candle" is actually a set of 2 tapers and a larger central candle placed on the altar.

Usually, one taper is lit by the bride's mother. The other taper is lit by the groom's mother. The lighting by the mothers is often accompanied by a specially chosen piece of music. The bride and groom each take a taper and light the central candle and as they do so they may exchange words about the uniting of their families. Sometimes, the bride and groom hand their mothers flowers that had been set at the altar. This part also may have its own special soft music. In the past the taper flames were extinguished to show that the couple is now a union. However, more recently, the tapers may be kept lit to show that the bride and the groom each retain their individuality as well as being united.

A set of these candles may be purchased from various shops and on-line stores that sell wedding accessories. Candles can also be custom made in various shapes and designs, even by the bride and groom themselves!

Note that if you are having a religious ceremony, you should check with your house of worship to see if unity candles are allowed.

The Unity Sand Ceremony

The unity sand ceremony is similar in purpose to the unity candle ceremony in that it allows other members of the newly united family to take part. In addition to the bride and groom, one or more members of the bride's and groom's families may participate. Many couples like the idea of this ceremony because it works well at an outdoor wedding and is a great way to acknowledge a couple's existing children as they blend into the new family.

As with the unity candle there are at least 3 vessels or vases. One will contain the blended sand from all participants and the others usually contain different colored sands from at least the bride and groom. Three vessels of almost any type that are meaningful to the newlyweds or appropriate for their theme may be used. The center vessel is clear so that everyone can see the artistry of the sand. It is usually larger than the others and can become a treasured art-piece for the couple to display.

If you use 3 vases - for example, one with white sand for the bride; one with colored sand for the groom and a central one to receive the mixture, the smaller ones can be used for flowers afterwards. Children from blended families can have vessels with their own colors of sand. In a beach wedding or one having a beach or Hawaiian theme, the bride and groom can use seashells to hold their sand.

As the bride and groom pour their sand into the central vase, they may say vows or words expressing their unity. If others, such as children will be adding sand, then the bride and groom can save a little and pour the remainder of their sand into the vase at the end of the ceremony.

Sand is available online or from a local craft store or may be collected from a beach or other location that has meaning to the couple. Likewise, vases or vessels specific to the sand ceremony may be bought at specialty stores on-line. These can often be personalized with the couple's names and wedding date. A local florist or craft store is another source for containers that suit the couple's unique style.

As with the unity candle ceremony, please check with your officiate and/or house of worship to make sure that this may be part of your wedding.

wedding background scrapbook

Now that you have the basic photography equipment and a better understanding of your camera, its' different modes and how they affect your images... it's time to start learning how to best use this knowledge to take photos that are not only in focus, but tell the right story and fit into your scrapbook of memories.

Basic Scrapbook Photography Composition:

Anyone can easily, in just a few hours, learn to operate a camera, point it at something and take a clear, in focus image. But it takes lots and lots of practice to have that image composed so that it also tells the story, preserves the memory and fits onto your scrapbook page the way you need it to.

In all your standard photography courses, they teach you the basic principal of: Use all the available space!

For your scrapbooks... this is sometimes the totally WRONG ANSWER!

Yes, if you are going to print an image of your child's smiling face and hang it on the wall, you want to get in closer and capture the face close up. The difference with the scrapbook or memory journal is that while you may want to have a close-up on the page, you are also going to be adding captions, journaling and other artwork that not only tells of your child's wonderful smile, but that it's their 1st birthday and they were smiling at grandma for the very first time.

Scrapbook Photo Technique: Take the close-up image, but also take one with grandma in the image and one of the child's profile from the front of the ears forward on the very edge of the frame. (great to use as a scrapbook background) In short, think page background, and how you will tell the story on the page or page set. Then take the images needed for that one part of the story.

Photos of the birthday cake in the lower corner of the photo with a solid color wall or background and photos of the present's off to one side or along the bottom of the picture make wonderful scrapbook background images with plenty of empty space to fill with photos and journaling notes.

Landscapes are different:

When you travel or go on family outings, a lot of people take beautiful images of the landscapes and scenery.

The problems you run into as a scrapbook photographer is that these landscapes don't make for good backgrounds in many cases because you will be covering much of it up with other photos and stories. And if you just put the images on the scrapbook page by themselves, they make for some very boring scrapbook page sets.

So, what do you do about it?

There are a couple of techniques that you can use to help jazz up your scrapbook scenery pages.

First, keep your family in the images but off to the side or near the bottom of the image and don't be afraid to use the fill flash mode (if you have one) to highlight their faces. This keeps the story about them and that they were there.

Second, use the viewfinder and look at the image as if it were a background page. Imagine your images, titles and journaling over the top of the image you see. Now, move the camera around, turn it on end for portrait style and capture several images that work as backgrounds with the most important parts of the scenery around the sides of the photo.

Third, use a tree, some plants, a fence post or other close object to frame all or part of the image. Grandma and Grandpa holding hands and you shooting between them with just their shoulders, arms and hands framing the scenic is a really cool way to tie the family into the story.

Scrapbook Photography Tip: If your camera doesn't have manual focus or it's hard to use, then almost all cameras today allow you to point the camera somewhere else (like into the distance or at the sky), press the shutter button part way down so it activates the focus and light settings, then without releasing the shutter, point it where you want the photo taken and finish pressing the shutter. In this way you have the camera set to shoot a different setting than would be otherwise. You may need to practice this a bit, but it really works great at sunset and to place focus on other than the close up face or object.

Now it's time again for the fun part... practice all these principles and techniques at the same time. It's not as easy as you might think! At least not at first anyhow. Now you get an idea of why photographers take years to really learn their craft well.

This week's assignment: Create 2 complete scrapbook pages using only your images and journaling/titles.

Go out in the morning or early afternoon with your friends or family. Take photos of backgrounds, people and nature. Then, that evening go out again and take images in low light and of the sunset with someone as the focus of the story.

Now, put the images onto your computer and using a digital scrapbook or photo editing program (you can print and do it by hand too, but that will cost you money for the prints and paper), create one page that tells the story of your morning and one page that tells the story of your evening. You can only use the images your took and titles/journaling boxes.

Show the results to family and friends that were not there and see if they understand the story and like what they see. After all, it's only through the minds of others that we know we have told the complete story.

In Part 3, we'll cover mood and some more tricks to make your photo's look like a pro.

Until then, practice, practice, practice!

wedding background image

If you want to take great wedding photographs with your digital camera then there are few things that you need to consider. Below we will look at producing great wedding photographs when using a digital camera.

The first element in order to take great wedding photographs is to prepare. If you are being asked to take some photographs at a wedding then start preparing at least 2 months before the big day arrives. Spend time getting to know the bride and groom so you understand what they want and what they need. Some great questions to ask them are as follows:-

1. How many photographers will be there as well as you?

2. What kind of photographs are they looking for you to take for them on their big day? Do they want formal or more casual and candid shots of both themselves and their guests?

3. How many guests are actually attending the wedding and how many are guests of the bride and guests of the groom? Also how many are family members and how many of the guests are just friends of theirs?

4. Where would they like the photographs you take to be shot? Do they want you at the church or the reception or at both locations?

By asking these questions you will be able to gain a better understanding of the bride and grooms requirements for their wedding photographs and in turn you will be able to produce betters shots of the big day. Unfortunately there are many happy couples who have had their big day ruined because the photographer who took their wedding photographs didn't take time to find out what they wanted and needed and just did as he pleased.

The next step is organizing your equipment. This is probably the most critical step of all as you don't want to turn up at such a major event only to find that you haven't got something or that you run out of memory sticks. Below is a list of equipment you will need for any wedding photography shoot.

1. Your digital camera. But if you can afford to bring a back up camera with you just in case.

2. Lenses and Filters. It is important that you include these in your camera case just in case you want to use them.

3. Tripod. Another essential piece of wedding photography equipment as this can be extremely useful when taking indoor shots in poor lighting conditions.

4. Memory Cards. Another essential piece of wedding photography equipment as you don't want to find yourself unable to take any more photographs because you have no memory left on your cards. Remember taking wedding photographs can mean you will end up taking hundreds for the happy couple then to use only a few of them.

wedding themes

Everyone is looking for wedding ideas but imagine you are finally going to propose to the girl of your dreams so you will want to make the occasion special and do something that will be memorable. You can get the best ideas from the person you love and the things they love to do most. If they are into films, you could take them to a movie and then pop the big question right in the theater or if you want something private, you could just cook a nice dinner and pop the question at a warm cozy time.

Taking your loved one away for a nice vacation is a good way to make that proposal as well. If you want romantic destinations then Paris, Prague, or Venice are nice romantic destinations that can help you get the job done well. Why not take the climb up to Eiffel tower and ask the question or book a Gondola in Venice and pop that question just at the right time?

If you are into food then you can use a related approach for such an occasion. Book a restaurant that is known for its good food and great service. You could add a nice twist by making the chef hide the ring in the desert plate or you could ask the chef to write a note right on the edge of the plate in chocolate.

Many people are not that comfortable with great shows of public affection and if you are that kind of a person you could make that occasion private and be comfortable with it. You could prepare a dinner for your loved one and turn on the music. This could create the perfect ambiance for you to get in the mood.

There are also some other ways of proposing that might be funny. You could simply hide the proposal in a fortune cookie and give it to your loved. Or maybe if you are traveling by a plane and you could ask the captain to make the announcement over the loud speaker. Moreover, you could persuade the local cinema to play your proposal as an advertisement before the movie. Another interesting idea would be to write a song and ask the local radio station to play it for you. All these techniques would add a nice bit of fun to your proposals. Another way to add fun to your proposal would be to start a little treasure hunt in which clues would follow one after the other. The ending revelation of course would be the marriage proposal. After that, you can indulge all the wedding planning ideas since you have gotten through the original hurdle.

wedding items

Before celebrating the wedding day, there will be pre-wedding parties that couples should consider first. When it comes to the bridal shower, the bride-to-be gets all the attention. A bridal shower is a perfect time for the bride-to-be to enjoy her last moment being single. It is often celebrated with friends and family members, with foods games and of course laughter.

Basically, it is the maid of honor who will host the bridal shower. She is the one responsible for everything, from deciding where to hold the shower to choosing bridal shower favors to give out. Her role is very challenging, that's why to do the job, she will need enough manpower to help her arrange the party. The bridesmaids can be her assistants in preparing the party. Although planning a bridal shower can be quite risky, it should be done smoothly and full of love. By doing so, it commemorates the celebration that the bride would really appreciate and remember for a lifetime.

When planning a bridal shower, it is important to consider the guest list. If it is a surprise party for the bride-to-be, ask her parents or the groom-to-be for their options, doing this will help you create an appropriate guest list. The people who are invited to the shower are also the ones who are invited to the wedding.

The date of the bridal shower should fall sometime within a couple months before the big day. And since it is a surprise party, you need to plan and prepare for it in very safe way you can to avoid the bride from noticing it. But if it's not, you can just ask the bride directly about the availability of her schedule.

Most bridal showers reflects a certain theme, so you may want to consider a theme to create a party atmosphere. When choosing a theme, keep in mid the bride-to-be. Since she is the honoree, it is just right to choose a perfect theme that fits her taste and personality. The theme will basically help you what invitation, decoration, food and favors you should choose. It serve as your guide that will help make the preparation process easy and fast. Lingerie, kitchen, garden, sporty, around-the-clock themes are few of the most popular themes to choose from.

There should also party games to keep the party alive. Popular are bingo and trivia games about the bride and groom. Make sure to prepare little prizes for the winners. Or, you can have door prizes as well. Bridal shower supplies such as bridal shower favors, decors, invitations, games and etc. are available in a wide variety of choices today. You can find them at both local retailers and online stores. With the advent of the Internet, you can now shop online at the comfort of your home. Moreover, you can find great deals online, perfect for any type of budget you have. Most items online can be personalized, particularly personalized party favors and gifts.

wedding ring sets

Unique and reasonably priced engagement sets are only a click away. Cubic zirconium, known as CZ, sets are much more inexpensive than other designs. There is a wide range of dynamic and expressive designs. Even the most outstanding designs in rose-colored stone are easy to obtain. So are celebrity designs. Vintage gold, classics, and retro designs are also quite popular. All are quick and simple to purchase online, at the right sites, of course. Look around on the web and find a rose-colored wedding set that is perfect, and perfectly priced.

There are many places for shoppers to locate exciting CZ gemstones in pretty settings. Pink, yellow, and crystal-coloured stones come in several different carat sizes. They are set in sterling silver and even 14 karat gold. It may seem impossible, but these can be obtained for under $40. Imitations and Almost Diamonds are the top shops to find faux diamond and celebrity-inspired jewel sets. Three-stone rings in pink and clear are available for $35.00-50.00. The central stone is larger, surrounded by two smaller stones. The colours can be combined in different ways. The colour of the larger stone determines the price of the ring. There are also Pink CZ eternity rings with white faux diamonds. Eternity rings in faux ruby are another option. The engagement/wedding pair set can be created for less than $100.00. Individual rings cost between $30.00 and $70.00. Create the perfect set to suit every woman.

Wedding bands in 24K Gold

Classic wedding bands never go out of style. However, a good, classy ring set can be difficult to find. 14 karat and 18 karat gold seem to be everywhere. Finding the higher quality gold takes a bit of effort. Try Adin Antique Jewellery or Ruby Lane online. These two specialize in antique jewellery and estate pieces. Rare, Edwardian, and Victorian pieces are a challenge. It is possible to find stones and setting from even earlier European designs. These are always genuine gold. However, online solutions for these challenges are not frequent. It may take a trip to the local pawnshop or second hand jeweller.

Problems with 24K Gold

Very few jewellers use 24K gold for contemporary rings. This is because this particular gold is quite soft. Plain 24K bands are even less common. Rings with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and other gems set in them are actually more frequently located than plain bands. Diva Diamonds will at time offer a 24K band, but the option can be quite expensive-sometime over $800.00 per ring. Watch out for other shops that may be advertising gold that is24K. Read the fine print carefully. Many times these pieces are plated. They are actually made of 18 karat gold, with a thin coating of 24K added on top. This is a poor solution. If it MUST be a pure 24karat gold genuine antique wedding band, shop carefully and examine every piece of jewellery. There are times when an online shop won't do. In that case, a visit to the actual store is necessary. Sometimes it's just the best way to go.