Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Washington DC Marriage License Requirements





By: Cassandra Cruise

A Washington DC Marriage License is a required document issued by the Marriage Bureau Section of the Family Court to a couple who wants to get married in Washington DC. It gives the latter the permission to tie the knot under the law. The set of laws may vary from one county to another thus it is advisable to check with the clerk of court’s office of your city’s marriage bureau to verify what the local rules are.

Applicants less than 16 years old are not allowed to marry. Both parties have to be at least 18 years old to obtain a marriage license but individuals who are at least 16 years old are permitted to wed as long as they have parental or legal guardian consent which may be provided in person or through a notarized letter.

Documents that will prove the age and identification of the applicants are required and this may be shown through passports, birth certificates, driver’s licenses or any similar valid IDs.

The bride and groom do not have to be residents of Washington DC to apply for the marriage license but both of them should be present upon application. Details required from the applicants are dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses as well as previous marriage information which include the city, state, country of each marriage and the ending status, whether by death or divorce. Home and work phone numbers are also asked from both parties.

In Washington DC, there is a 5-day waiting period. Most of the states exclude Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and in some occasions, the date the application is filed is not included in the waiting period. Once you get your license, you can marry immediately if you choose to do so.

The couple needs to take a medical exam to test for syphilis before receiving the license. The bride is also required to take a test for venereal disease. A state certified laboratory should analyze the tests and record them in the state form which can be requested from the physician, clinic or the Office of the Town Clerk. The tests are valid only for thirty days.

The marriage license application fee is $35 and the Certificate of Marriage issued with the license is $10 for a total cost of $45.

Ordained ministers may perform the marriage rites and they need to complete a marriage certificate for the bride and for the groom and submit another certificate to the clerk of the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions within 10 days after the marriage.

The Washington DC Marriage License has no expiration date.

Wedding Consultant



By: George Meszaros

If you are a busy woman who wants help planning your wedding, a wedding consultant may be a great idea for you. Organizing everything from your reception venue to the wedding cake requires significant time commitment. Wedding consultants are professional wedding planners that specialize in helping brides and grooms to help their big day.

Wedding consultants are knowledgeable about local vendors, and their advice can save you time and money. Instead of you calling ten different wedding cake professionals, the wedding consultant can help you with a list of highly experienced vendors.

A wedding consultant should not push you into any decisions. She should provide you with information to make good decisions. You don't have to accept every suggestion a wedding consultant may have, but you should use the knowledge you gain to your advantage.

There are many different ways you can work with a wedding consultant. You may hire one to take over completely, and organize the whole wedding. If all you want to do is show up, and enjoy the moment, you may want to hire a wedding consultant to take care of everything. If you have a smaller budget, it's worth to meet with a consultant to get some essential advice. If you have a small budget, you could hire a wedding consultant for a few hours. Even a couple of hours should help you with selecting the most recommended vendors in your area.

Before hiring a wedding consultant make sure that they are:
Experienced professionals. Many wedding consultants are hobbyists. You don't want to be the project of a hobbyist.
Professional wedding consultants will make your wedding planning experience smooth and effective.
Matching personality is not only important in your future marriage, but in your relationship with your wedding consultant.
Listening to you is their most important job. If you find that your wedding consultant is more interested in her agenda than listening to your needs, you should look for another one.

Wedding consultants are professionals making their living helping brides and grooms to plan their big day. Some consultants may charge a flat rate while others charge by the hour. If you want the wedding consultant to plan and organize your entire wedding, you can expect to spend about 10 percent of your budget on your wedding consultant.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Wedding Favors Unique wedding and bridal shower favors.


Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Wedding Favor Basics



By: Roy Dietelzieg

Handing wedding guests a wedding favor has almost become a tradition, although nobody really expects to receive anything when going to a wedding, most people will confess to being very happy with a little something to remember the weeding by, a wedding favor.

Not everyone can afford to produce a big flashy wedding and add to that an expensive wedding favor, everyone knows that the cost of a wedding alone (without the added events) can become a very heavy toll on the young couple, a wedding favor does not need to be a very expensive or a rare thing to be appreciated by all. Many people will tell you that receiving a wedding favor is, by itself, a nice gesture and that they would greatly appreciate anything, since it indicates that the bride and groom have thought of their guests.

But what would make a nice, inexpensive wedding favor? What can you think of that will surprise you guests and give them a sense that you truly thought of them and wanted to give them a little something as a token of your appreciation of them coming to your wedding and their wedding gift to you?. Almost anything can be turned into a wedding favor, from chocolates to jewelry, anything can become your wedding favor.

A wedding favor is not limited to one thing, it doesn't even have to bare the sign of your wedding, although having some soft of indication of the event is always a good idea there is not much point in printing this on a pack of chocolates or even on a specialist coffee.

Many things that you can buy in wholesale will serve you as a wedding favor, your creativity and hard work will do the rest. Think of something that is unique, it can be the date of you wedding, the season or anything both of you - or even one of you - is known to like, or to do, and try to think of things that associate with that passion of yours. Some people like to bring up the way they met on their wedding favor, if you both like tennis, why not go that way, if you cant find something like that, don't worry - there are still a lot of ideas out there.

Here are a few ideas you can use right away, they are not pricy, and you can make them in a reasonable timing, it wouldn't take all your energy and it will be a great wedding favor for your wedding guests. Fortune Cookies are always a nice thing, print out a lot of the usual fortune cookie sayings, and you got something to put on every table, try and make the fortunes relate to your wedding, or even to current events, this way everyone will know that this was specially made for the wedding. Deck of Cards is a fun, creative idea, with many possibilities of attaching it to the wedding by printing, writing or sticking things on the cards. A word to the wise, better hand these out as late as possible or you may end up with a few drunk tables forgetting about the wedding and starting poker playing.

Gourmet Coffee Packs are also a great wedding favor, assign different coffee flavors to different tables so guests can trade-off. Place the coffee in tulle and tie a beautiful ribbon (which matches your bridal party's colors) around the favor. This wedding favor will be well-received by the adults!

Wedding favor is a developing trend, not difficult to make and real fun for your wedding guests to receive, start thinking of what wedding favor you will have at your wedding. Good luck.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Roy Dietelzieg has worked in the jewelry industry and particularly on diamond engagement rings for 15 years, with a vast experience on weddings and wedding preparation, Roy now writes Wedding Favor Tips for the Wedding Favor Tips Pages.


Wedding Favor Basics


By: Roy Dietelzieg

Handing wedding guests a wedding favor has almost become a tradition, although nobody really expects to receive anything when going to a wedding, most people will confess to being very happy with a little something to remember the weeding by, a wedding favor.

Not everyone can afford to produce a big flashy wedding and add to that an expensive wedding favor, everyone knows that the cost of a wedding alone (without the added events) can become a very heavy toll on the young couple, a wedding favor does not need to be a very expensive or a rare thing to be appreciated by all. Many people will tell you that receiving a wedding favor is, by itself, a nice gesture and that they would greatly appreciate anything, since it indicates that the bride and groom have thought of their guests.

But what would make a nice, inexpensive wedding favor? What can you think of that will surprise you guests and give them a sense that you truly thought of them and wanted to give them a little something as a token of your appreciation of them coming to your wedding and their wedding gift to you?. Almost anything can be turned into a wedding favor, from chocolates to jewelry, anything can become your wedding favor.

A wedding favor is not limited to one thing, it doesn't even have to bare the sign of your wedding, although having some soft of indication of the event is always a good idea there is not much point in printing this on a pack of chocolates or even on a specialist coffee.

Many things that you can buy in wholesale will serve you as a wedding favor, your creativity and hard work will do the rest. Think of something that is unique, it can be the date of you wedding, the season or anything both of you - or even one of you - is known to like, or to do, and try to think of things that associate with that passion of yours. Some people like to bring up the way they met on their wedding favor, if you both like tennis, why not go that way, if you cant find something like that, don't worry - there are still a lot of ideas out there.

Here are a few ideas you can use right away, they are not pricy, and you can make them in a reasonable timing, it wouldn't take all your energy and it will be a great wedding favor for your wedding guests. Fortune Cookies are always a nice thing, print out a lot of the usual fortune cookie sayings, and you got something to put on every table, try and make the fortunes relate to your wedding, or even to current events, this way everyone will know that this was specially made for the wedding. Deck of Cards is a fun, creative idea, with many possibilities of attaching it to the wedding by printing, writing or sticking things on the cards. A word to the wise, better hand these out as late as possible or you may end up with a few drunk tables forgetting about the wedding and starting poker playing.

Gourmet Coffee Packs are also a great wedding favor, assign different coffee flavors to different tables so guests can trade-off. Place the coffee in tulle and tie a beautiful ribbon (which matches your bridal party's colors) around the favor. This wedding favor will be well-received by the adults!

Wedding favor is a developing trend, not difficult to make and real fun for your wedding guests to receive, start thinking of what wedding favor you will have at your wedding. Good luck.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Roy Dietelzieg has worked in the jewelry industry and particularly on diamond engagement rings for 15 years, with a vast experience on weddings and wedding preparation, Roy now writes Wedding Favor Tips for the Wedding Favor Tips Pages.


Party Planning 101



By: George Meszaros

Planning a successful party can be a complex project. There are many factors to consider to minimize embarrassing mishaps or possible conflicts. The more import the party you are planning the more attention you should pay to the planning. A 50th wedding anniversary party is usually going to require more complex planning than a small backyard barbeque party.

The first and most important aspect of party planning is to determine the reason for the party. The reason for the party usually determines the size, the budget, who is invited, and how many people you want to accommodate.

Setting your budget is crucial. The size of your budget can determine how many people you invite, the kind of food you serve, etc. You can do some very creative things with limited budgets; so modest budgets should not deter you. The most important thing is not to spend a dollar until you have your budget.

If money is an issue you may want to partner with someone to pay for the party. For example, if you are planning a birthday party you may have your party with a friend whose birthday is close to yours. Celebrating two peoples' birthday may be even more exciting. When you are faced with a problem try to think of it more as an opportunity instead of a problem.

How many people you invite has not only to do with your budget, but your location. If you plan the party to be held in your house, you should know how many people you can accommodate. You can invite about ten percent more than you can accommodate since some people may have to cancel in the last minute. When you invite guest to your party, try to avoid inviting people who can't stand each other. You want people to have fun, and you should do everything you can to avoid fights.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Party Favors Chocolate party favors for birthday, graduation, birth announcement, baby shower, weddings and more.


Wedding Speeches 101


By: Amy K. Spade

If you're planning a wedding or planning on being in one, then the question of wedding speeches is bound to come up.

Who gives the speeches

Well, this is really up to the couple that's getting married, but there seems to be a normal list of people that are expected to say something.

The wedding party usually has the most members talking about the bride or the groom. The Best Man and Matron or Maid of Honor are the ones that will be giving short speeches before dinner in most cases. Other members of the party can also speak if the couple chooses.

The father of the bride usually gives a speech to the guests, thanking them for coming as well as saying a word or two to the groom. The couple themselves may also want to talk to the guests, giving them thanks and their love.

Of course, the reception isn't the only place for speeches. Many times, the wedding rehearsal has one or two of the couple's parents speaking as well.

As many people as the couple wants can speak, but what if you're the one that's asked?

Before you stand up

If you're asked to give a speech, no doubt you're nervous and at a loss for what to say. The best advice is to keep your speech short and simple, so that your nerves don't have time to take over and so that your creativity isn't sapped.

Make a list of all of the things that you admire and love about the couple or half of the couple. If you've been friends for a while, you may want to include a joke or a story. The best advice is to keep the story clean though--their parents may not want to know what they've done.

Talk about the person and then end with some sort of revelation or note of congratulation. Raise your glass and toast the couple. It's really as easy as that.

If you're afraid that you'll become nervous, make sure that you rehearse the speech often, writing it well in advance. Or you can just focus on your friend as you give the speech and avoid making eye contact out into the reception crowd.

Speeches are a wonderful way to give thanks to the guest and to members of the new couple. Use your heart as a guide, and you're sure to get it right.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams and avoid wedding day disaster! Get the free course now by clicking Your Special Day from Start


Planning A Successful Wedding 101


By: Colin

If you've already found your soul mate, gotten engaged, and remained happy since then, you've accomplished what many people simply can't do. But you still have one big challenge: planning a successful wedding.

Planning a successful, organized wedding is a big task in itself, so it is absolutely essential that you do things right the first time around otherwise you risk catastrophe when the day of the wedding arrives.

First off, you need to make some lists to organize your schedule. The guests list, the suppliers list, receptions, photographers, bands, and churches. Most important, choose a date as soon as possible, and set a budget.

After you've organized everything, you need to choose a restaurant for the celebration, and a church for the ceremony. Then you choose god parents, the bridesmaids, the flower girls and the ring bearer, and the best man. The most important thing to remember is to get a marriage license!

Spend as much time as you need to choose the rings, the gowns, veils, and other accessories. You should choose the invitations carefully, because they give the first hint about what guests can expect from your wedding.

Find a business which specializes in decorations, and they will be willing to help you create your ideal atmosphere at the church and reception. Be sure to check the reception menu and order your perfect cake.

The photos and videos taken at the wedding are very important. Look at your photographer's portfolio, so that you can feel fully confident in his/her work.

Your wedding is supposed to be a happy and joyful time. Not stressful. The music you choose can make or break the atmosphere. You might not be able to make everyone happy, but diversity will certainly help things. The opening dance you should practice with your mate, since you will be watched by everyone in the room.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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