Taking out a wedding loan is one of the biggest financial mistakes a couple can make.

With the wedding season upon us, brides and grooms are going to be shelling out big money to get married. Canadian couples spend on average more than $28,000 for a wedding, with the average wedding in Toronto costing as much as $50,000.

These numbers don’t even include the honeymoon, engagement ring, bridal consultant or wedding planner, all of which can add tens of thousands more to the cost of a wedding.

In the past, families of the bride and groom typically helped out with wedding expenses, but with the prices of weddings so high and people waiting until later in life to get married, it’s becoming more common for the bride and groom to pay for part or all of these expenses.

This is fueling the growing trend of couples getting wedding loans.

Both secured and unsecured wedding loans are available, and loan amounts can vary greatly, from as little as $1,000 all the way to the high five-figures.

The interest rates you qualify for will depend greatly on your credit rating and whether you choose a secured or unsecured loan.

In most cases, even couples with good credit will need to pay double-digit interest rates for a wedding loan, and many will carry interest comparable to what a couple would qualify for with a credit card.

While getting a wedding loan may seem like a good way to bridge any shortfall a couple has, it’s one of the biggest financial mistakes they can make. There is nothing worse than starting off married life tens of thousands of dollars in debt, especially if student loans and other debt is also being brought into the marriage.

The entire amount paid for the wedding will disappear in a day, and if the wedding is paid for with a loan, the couple could be paying for that day years down the road.

Any couple that has to get a loan to pay for a wedding is setting itself up for money troubles in the future. Avoiding the wedding loan will force a couple to deal with financial issues before marriage, which can go a long way to eliminating money as a major marital problem.

Here are three alternatives to wedding loans:

Elope

If you were told that skipping your wedding would mean you could have $1 million dollars, would you do it? That can be the result if you decide to elope instead of going into debt for a wedding.

If eloping is an option, it is financially by far the best one.

Forget all the trappings of a wedding and save yourself tens of thousands of dollars that you can put toward more important financial dreams (a down payment on a house, retirement accounts, etc) the two of you have.

Delay

If you have your sights set on a wedding that costs a specific amount and aren’t willing to compromise on it, think about delaying the wedding until you have the money to afford it.

This could be an excellent time for you and your betrothed to discuss financial issues together and how you are going to accomplish your goal to save the money needed.

Once you succeed, you will have laid the foundation for reaching your financial goals in the future and have a good understanding of how to work together to reach these goals.

Budget

Another option is to do away with a wedding’s budgetary excesses. Budgeting is another indication of how a couple is able to compromise on money.

Make sure that you keep strictly to a budget that you can afford, and don’t let all those small costs creep up and ruin it.

On the bright side, if you can compromise and learn to budget together on the wedding, you will be in excellent shape to do the same in all the other financial matters that arise during your marriage.

While these three options may seem unromantic when it comes to your wedding day, consider the alternative.

Taking out a wedding loan will likely mean years of fighting over money while you pay the loan back. How romantic does that sound?

My Wedding In Toronto

Toronto is among the most diverse cities in the world and so it stands to reason that ethnic or bi racial weddings are abundant. Cultures throughout the world have developed time-honored traditions that symbolize the ever-lasting love and commitment of marriage. Here are some traditional customs that are different in process but similar in uniting two people together.

Jewish

Steeped in decades old tradition, the Jewish wedding celebration usually begins one week prior to the day of the ceremony, and is filled with numerous family celebrations. Traditionally, the bride and groom do not see each other during this period.

On the day of the wedding, the ‘veiling’ of the bride signals the beginning of the ceremony, which takes place under a cloth canopy-like structure called a chuppah. After the nuptials, the bride circles the groom seven times and comes to rest at his right-hand side. The breaking of the glass signifies the end of the ceremony, after which, the couple is escorted to a private room to spend a few minutes alone.

Chinese

Traditions leading up to a Chinese wedding include the exchanging of gifts between families, the ‘setting of the bridal bed,’ and the decorating of the bridal house. Since red symbolizes prosperity and love, it is the traditional colour of the bride’s dress and many of the decorations on the wedding day.

At the ceremony, the couple drinks wine and honey, and are joined together with red string. The bride and groom participate in the tea ceremony to show respect for their families. A wedding banquet, often with a nine course meal, is held after the ceremony to celebrate the couple’s union.

East Indian

A cleansing ceremony takes place before the wedding, after which the bride is painted with henna patterns. Traditionally initials were buried within these patterns to help the bride and groom of an arranged marriage break the ice on their wedding night. Today, many brides still adorn themselves with henna patterns as a form of decoration.

On her wedding day, the East Indian bride wears a sari made from fine fabrics and adorned with elaborate embroidery. The groom traditionally chooses from sherwanis, jodhpuri suits, or kurta pyjamas. The actual wedding ceremony depends greatly on which region of India the families are from, but they are typically joyful and lively celebrations.

Greek Orthodox

The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony has two parts, the Service of Betrothal, and the Sacrament of Marriage. The Service of Betrothal includes the exchanging of rings which have been blessed by the priest. The Koumbara (best man) exchanges the rings three times between the bride and groom to symbolize the strength of the couple before it is placed on the bride and groom’s third fingers.

During the Sacrament of Marriage, the couple’s hands are joined, and they are crowned with the stefana. This is followed by religious readings and the consumption of wine. The couple is then walked around an altar three times to represent their everlasting journey. The stefana is then removed and the couple declared married.

American Indian

While Native American wedding ceremonies vary according to tribal customs, they do tend to carry a common premise. Natural themes relating to the Great Spirit and the earth are usually incorporated into the ceremony, and drums provide most of the music.

The bride typically wears a long dress decorated with beading and fringing. It usually contains colours representing north, south, east, and west. Specific customs included in the American Indian wedding may include the Blanket Ceremony, the Basket Ceremony, and the Fire ceremony depending on the tribe.

Hispanic

Traditionally, Hispanic weddings are deeply spiritual, take place in a Roman Catholic Church, and involve a full mass. The bride and groom and their attendants stand or kneel at the Church’s alter. Prayers are said for the couple as they begin their life together.

During the ceremony, the bride is ‘given away’ by her father to the groom. In turn, the groom presents his bride with thirteen gold coins to show her that he will be able to support her financially.

Toronto Wedding Guide

Spring wedding season has arrived, ushering in hefty costs for guests — and especially for members of the wedding party.

But it can be hard for twentysomethings to fit extra costs into scant budgets, especially if you have multiple weddings to attend. So be sure to determine what you are signing up for before committing to be part of the ceremony or a guest at a destination wedding — and look for ways to trim costs.

If you are asked to be part of a ceremony, don’t hesitate to ask the bride and groom upfront for details including the event’s location and other functions they may expect you to attend. In return, be honest with them about your financial situation.

Colleen Bayus, 24, attended four weddings last year, traveling from Washington to Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia a total of seven times for dress fittings, bachelorette parties and the ceremonies.

“It really added up….I had to tell my friend in Boston that I didn’t have the money to attend her bachelorette party in Manhattan,” she says.

If you know you can’t afford to fly to a destination wedding in the Caribbean plus a weekend bridal party in Miami, speak up from the beginning, says Susan RoAnne, a networking and etiquette expert in San Francisco. “It’s fair to say ‘I love you, but I don’t want to shortchange you if I can’t afford to participate in every aspect,’ ” she says.

Consider It a Vacation

For Carol Emory, 25, an assistant cookbook editor, flying from Chicago for a four-day bachelorette party in Miami and a four-day wedding event in California will put a dent in her funds. Between flights, bridesmaid dress, hair and makeup costs and gifts, she estimates her friend’s wedding will cost her almost $2,000.

“It’s a stretch and I wouldn’t do it for everyone, but I like to travel and consider it my vacation for the year,” she says.

Even if you aren’t in the wedding party, the cost for gifts and travel can reach more than $1,000, says David Dickerman, 25, of New York, who is attending a friend’s wedding at the Beaver Creek ski resort in Colorado this weekend.

To keep costs down when traveling, always try to split the cost of transportation, rooms and even food with other guests.

The High Cost of Clothes

When it comes to clothing, men in a bridal party may need to spend between $200 and $500 to rent or buy a tuxedo, cummerbund and shoes. Costs ratchet up for women, who may have to pay for a dress, alterations, delivery fee, undergarments, shoes and jewelry, which can add up to $800.

You may be able to shop around for a less expensive dress if the couple is flexible with your garb and asks only that your dress be a certain color or fabric, as opposed to requiring a specific dress. Places to look include eBay.com, BudgetBridalGowns.com and WoreItOnce.com.

And if you bought a dress you never plan to wear again, revisit those Web sites and try to sell it there.

Are you a photographer, graphic designer or makeup artist? Offer your services to the couple as a wedding gift. That can allow you to give something both personal and helpful, while sparing your wallet.

In addition, instead of buying a $50 serving bowl, consider teaming up with others to buy a bigger group gift like a flat-screen television.

You’ve decided to have an outdoor wedding? Congratulations. Outdoor weddings are romantic and beautiful. However, they aren’t as easy as they may look. Outdoor weddings come with additional caveats and pitfalls, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to shine on your wedding day.

1. Make your guests comfortable Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don’t leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don’t forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don’t forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.

2. Have a backup plan What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won’t flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.

3. Plan for Wind Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you’ll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won’t leave you looking like Cousin It! Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product. Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.

4. Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you’re probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.

5. Decorations One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it’s been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminarias; torches; or farolitas.

6. Make things tasty outside Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they’re planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.

7. Don’t leave your guests parched Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.

8. Those pesky flying things Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won’t spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.

9. Here comes the sun Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests’ backs rather than in their eyes.

10. Permits Don’t forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.

Nude weddings are on the rise, according to “Weddings Exposed: Bride and Groom Bare All,” by Lana Gerseten of Columbia News Service. It appeared in, Arizona Central on February 20th.

600 guests attended a wedding in the Berkshire mountains where the bride was not wearing a wedding dress and the groom wore nothing more than a top hat and bow tie. Only 12 of the guests wore clothes, some wore hats or had shawls around their shoulders, but most did not dress at all.

Instead of paying the $26,000 on the average cost of a wedding, a nude wedding will cost you about $2,000 to $3,000. Nude weddings are quite popular especially on nude cruises, where on a recent cruise 15 couples renewed their vows without clothes.

According to Rev. Jo Ann Pessagno, a minister who she says has presided over 80 nude weddings and officiated the wedding covered in the article.

“Couples who get married in the nude are closer to God, the universe, divine energy,” she said . “Their emphasis is on the ceremony and the words as opposed to the flowers, the place cards, what kind of wine they’re serving, what kind entrees, desserts.”

A nude wedding symbolizes the love that couples have for each other and not on superficial details.

Something for you to think about when planning your hassle free wedding!!

Only three colourless diamonds of over 100 carats have ever appeared at auction, all sold in Geneva.

The largest diamond ever found was the 3,106.75 carat Cullinan diamond from South Africa. It was cut into three main gems for the British Crown Jewels and many smaller pieces. Here’s the 101 carat diamond.

Due to the emerging wealth in Asia, the diamond will be sold at the Hong Kong branch of Christie’s auction house on May 28. Francois Curiel, chairman of jewelery at Christie’s, made it clear that this was a historic sale. The exhibition will feature $400 million dollars worth of art and jewelery, including contemporary and impressionist paintings.

Comparable diamonds have fetched astronomical prices at auction. The Mouawad Splendor, a 101.84-carat pear-shaped diamond, brought in $12.7 million dollars when it was sold in 1990. This diamond is expected to bring in between $18 to $20 million dollars.

The diamond, found at the Premier diamond mine in South Africa, is so far unnamed. Most likely destination is either the Asian or Middle Eastern market. One doesn’t expect a greater Toronto Area business tycoon being the successful bidder, although you never know.

Welcome to Canada’s Wedding Expo!

Admission Price: $10.00

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

LOCATION
Toronto Congress Centre North
650 Dixon Road,Toronto, Ontario, M9W 1J1. Tel: (416) 245-5000
Map and directions

FASHION SHOW TIMES:
Saturday 1:30pm and 4:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday 12pm and 4pm

WEDDING EXPO DATES
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 ……….. 10a.m. to 9p.m.
Sunday February 24th, 2008……………..10a.m. to 6p.m.

SEMINARS SCHEDULE
Saturday and Sunday: Times to be announced
Sunday: Preston Bailey Special Presentation - 2pm to 3pm - CTV Centre Stage

As you get ready for your anticipated walk down the aisle, use this mini wedding planner to plan your exciting Toronto wedding. This wedding planner is designed to help you plan everything you need to make your dream come true.

* 12 Months or Before
o Determine potential dates and times for your wedding.
o Decide on the size, formality and setting of your wedding.
o Create a wedding and engagement budget.
o Reserve the locations for your wedding and reception.
o Meet with and book your wedding officiant or clergy.
o Choose your wedding party and confirm the participants.
o Choose your wedding rings.
o Create your guest list.
o Organize the engagement party.

* 9-12 Months Before
o Order your wedding dress and attendants’ attire.
o Book the photographer and videographer.
o Reserve the caterer.
o Arrange for decor, chair covers and linens.
o Book your live band or DJ.
o Reserve the florist.
o Order the wedding cake.
o Reserve any rental items from the rental company.
o Register your gifts at your favourite stores.
o Organize accommodations for out of town guests.
o Plan your relaxing honeymoon.

* 6–9 Months Before
o Decide on the menu.
o Reserve the musicians for your ceremony.
o Reserve then limousine service.
o Order the invitations.
o Order bombonieres for your guests.
o Choose outfits for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom.
o Check marriage licence requirements.

* 3–6 Months Before
o Finalize your guest list.
o Choose readers for the ceremony.
o Finalize the florist order.
o Reserve the men’s wedding attire.
o Book your hairdresser appointment.

* 2 Months Before
o Mail the invitations.
o Decide on your wedding vows or compose your own.
o Finalize the reception menus.
o Confirm the wedding details with the musicians and clergy or officiant.
o Print the programs.
o Purchase the gifts for the parents and attendants.
o Make appointments for manicure, pedicure and make-up
o Schedule the final dress fitting.

* 1 Month Before
o Apply for a marriage license.
o Plan the rehearsal dinner.
o Meet with photographer and videographer.

* 2 Weeks Before
o Have a party for the attendants.
o Draft the speeches.
o Finalize all the reception details.
o Contact the guests who have not replied.
o Meet with your hairdresser and make-up artist for consultation.
o Finalize the song lists and give to the musicians or playlists to DJ.
o Confirm honeymoon reservations.

* 1 Week Before

o Finalize seating plan.
o Determine the order for the procession.
o Organize your rehearsal and dinner.
o Confirm accommodation reservations.
o Pick up the attire for the groomsmen.
o Confirm the final numbers with the caterer.
o Confirm details with the limousine company.
o Deliver your marriage licence to the officiant.
o Prepare a seating arrangement for the reception and write out the place cards.
o Delegate someone to hand out the bombonieres.
o Delegate someone to return any rented items after the wedding.
o Write any cheques required for the wedding day.
o Pack for your honeymoon.

* On the Day
o Give the wedding bands to the best man.
o Give the best man any cheques that need to be given out that day.
o Present the attendants and parents with their gifts.
o Relax and enjoy your special day!

* After the Wedding
o Send out your thank-you notes.
o Send thank-you letters to suppliers and attendants.
o Arrange for cleaning and preservation of your bridal gown