Wedding Ideas for Brides: 5 Ways To Capture Your Wedding Memories Forever

As far back as a girl can remember, she dreams of her wedding day. She imagines – to every last detail – things like: what type of wedding dress she will wear, what color the bridesmaids’ dresses will be and even more importantly, who that perfect man will be who becomes her husband. When that day finally arrives, it is the most important day of the bride’s life – a day she wants to look back on with fond memories for years to come. For more and more brides, one of the most perfect ways to capture their wedding is to create an Instant Photo Guest Book similar to the one created by Adesso Albums. Having such a keepsake, scrapbook or photo album to open up and share with your spouse, family and friends is the best way to capture the wedding day’s memory forever.Instant Photo Guest Books are a unique “marriage” of a photo album and a guest book. To create a photo guest book at a wedding, simply take Polaroid pictures, slip them into your guest book and have the guests write their personalized messages to you the bride and your groom on the guest book pages. This will capture your wedding event instantly in pictures and words–and you won’t even have to wait weeks to get your photographs returned from your wedding photographer. You’ll be able to enjoy it as soon as it’s over. However, the beauty of these keepsake albums is that it can be used for all parts of your wedding event: engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception and even the honeymoon.Here are 5 other great ideas to capture your wedding moments:1. Wish BowlHere’s an idea, that won’t even cost you a dime. The purpose of a wedding Wish Bowl is to provide an opportunity for guests to wish good fortunes to follow the Bride and Groom wherever they go. The idea is to have your guests write their wishes for love and life on little slips of paper and place them into a crystal or decorative glass bowl or vase. You don’t even have to buy one if you have a nice vase or bowl at home already. For a more formal presentation, the slips of paper can be placed into little matching wedding stationary envelopes. The stationary paper and envelopes should match the Bride’s color theme and/or wedding stationary. After the wedding events are over, the notes can be read and placed into a wedding album or scrapbook while the bowl or vase can be used for the home or decoration.2. Wish TreeThe Wish Tree theme, similar to the Wish Bowl, is for guests at the wedding to write down their wishes for love and life to the Bride and Groom – except instead of the bowl, a tree is used to collect the wishes. There are many types of Wish Trees – your can purchase metal ones, or fashion your own using blooming branches from a garden or florist, or even use a live potted plant such as a fichus tree. Gift boxes can be hung from the tree of your choice and your guests can take a box off the tree in exchange for their wishes. After the wedding events are over, the wishes can be taken off the tree and placed in a keepsake box, scrapbook or album.3. Signature PlatterWedding Signature Platters or plates make a unique alternative to traditional wedding guest books. The platter can be plain, decorative or even custom designed and ordered online or from a wedding stationary store. Guests simply sign the platter during the wedding event with a special ceramic marker and after the wedding events are over, the platter is fired in your home oven. The special signature platter can be used for serving favorite dishes at future dinner parties as husband and wife or just as a decorative memento of the special gathering.4. Framed Signature MatSimilar to the Signature Platter, the Signature Mat is another alternative to the traditional wedding guest book. A photo of the Bride and Groom – often a “before” wedding photo (like an engagement photo) – is placed in an acid free matte and mounted either on an easel or table in the entry area of the wedding reception. Guests sign their name and well wishes to the Bride and Groom on the mat surrounding the picture. The Signature Mat is then framed for the newlywed’s new home. The “before wedding” photo can be replaced with a wedding photo of the couple before framing.5. Typewriter Guest BookThe Typewriter Guest Book is Martha Stewart’s latest discovery for a guest book alternative. Look for an old-fashioned, inexpensive typewriter either online, from a flea market or thrift shop – but make SURE it works – and set it out on a table in the entry area of the wedding reception. Load the typewriter with long sheets of paper for guests to type in good wishes to the Bride and Groom along with their name and any sentiment that comes to mind. After the wedding, the page can be tied into a scroll with ribbon or framed along with pictures taken at the wedding.The above 5 unique ways to capture your wedding moments will help you and your loved ones relive your wedding memories over and over again.

Beginners Golf – Learn Golf Etiquette That Every Golf Player Must Know

Golf Etiquette is Very Important!Experienced golf players follow a set of unwritten rules while on the course. These rules are typically referred to as golf etiquette. When beginners golf it is important for them to learn proper golf etiquette from the more seasoned its players in their group. As a beginners golf game improves they must begin to incorporate these rules into their usual routine on the golf course. Most country clubs don’t demand that player’s golf with courtesy, but it is expected. Following the commonly accepted rules of golf etiquette will create a congenial atmosphere in which the game of golf can be fully enjoyed by all.Beginners Golf – Maintain a Good Pace in Your Golf GameIf you have ever been stuck behind a slow moving group ahead of you on the golf course then you know how frustrating it can be. Not only does a slow group eat up a lot of time, but they can also cost other golfers strokes by throwing off the natural rhythm of their game. When beginners golf they need to keep in mind the fact that it will take them a longer time to reach the green than it will a more experienced player.If you find that your group is holding up another it is a common its courtesy to allow the other group to play through. You can also speed up your golf game by not spending an excessive amount of time looking for a lost golf ball. Another great time saver is simple preparation. Instead of admiring the clouds while your companions are taking their shots, spend that time planning your own upcoming shot.Beginners Golf – Golf Etiquette Also Involves SafetySafety is an important consideration in any sport and golf is no different. The use of golf carts is an area of safety where many golfers would receive a failing grade. Make sure to read all of the rules posted in the clubhouse, cart, and on the course. Keep golf carts in designated areas only!Beginner golfers must also be on alert when preparing to make a swing. Always look around before taking a swing; this will go a long way in promoting the safety of the other golf players in your group. You should keep your eye on the ball after making a shot and call out a warning if others are in danger of being struck.Beginners Golf – Good Golf Etiquette Requires the Consideration of Other Golfers Your actions toward other golfers are perhaps the most important part of golf etiquette. Golfers must focus when making a shot and that requires quiet. When beginners golf they must remember not to speak or make unexpected noises while others prepare to take their shots. There are a few specific rules for conduct on the green as well. When beginners golf if is very important that they are conscious of where their shadow falls on the green. All shadows must be kept well away from the putting line.

Travel Insurance – Where to Obtain Cover

Traveling is something that often requires a lot of thought and planning – everything from booking the flight to finding a hotel with good rates. This and much more needs to be done before travelers can pack their bags and leave on their holiday getaway or business trip. For a lot of travelers, there is another step involved in the travel planning process and that is purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance provides a safeguard for travelers should their travel plans be canceled, luggage lost or a medical emergency occur while away from home. For those about to travel, the following article will provide information on where to look for travel insurance.OnlineThe first place that travelers should look is online. Many insurance providers now allow customers to complete and submit policy applications online, and travel insurance is no exception. Searching for a policy over the internet is not only time saving in nature but you may find the best deal this way. Use a search engine to locate travel insurance companies and then go from there by narrowing down the options based on the suitability of cover and price. It is also often possible to get significant discounts when you buy travel insurance online through direct agents.Local Insurance CompaniesWith the popularity of travel insurance growing, many local insurance companies are starting to offer cover to their clients. No matter where one may live, there is sure to be a wide array of insurance providers in the area. If interested in obtaining travel insurance before you leave on your trip, why not stop in at your local insurance company and see what they have to offer. You may want to call around town first to see which companies offer this type of policy so as not to waste time driving from insurance company to insurance company as coverage for trip planning is not offered by every insurer.Travel AgentsAn additional option when it comes to finding a travel insurance policy is to get one through your travel agent when you book your trip. Some travel agencies may offer travel insurance policies or direct you to an insurer in the area who can help you with your travel insurance coverage needs. Consulting with your individual travel agent may prove extremely beneficial with regard to obtaining the most suitable travel insurance plan to protect you while traveling as well as your investment in the future trip. Buyers should beware though that booking cover through a travel agent is likely to be more expensive.

Property Managers Can Make or Break Your Real Estate Business!

It is extremely important to find a good property manager. Even then you should keep track of everything that is being done with your property. Remember this is a business…your business. If you aren’t careful, you’ll see your investment become a liability.Although what a property manager charges is important, even more important is what you get. On average we pay 8% a month on collected rents. You may find someone that will charge you only 5%, saving you money, and in return they may destroy your business. To date, we have not found a good property manager that only charges 5%. Saving money isn’t as important as hiring the right property manager that will properly take care of your investment.Your goal is to:
• Decrease expenses – utilities, repairs, etc.
• Avoid tenant turnover.
• Raise rents to keep up with current market rent rates.Property managers are not your business partners. They work for you! They can make recommendations but that’s it. Consult them as a resource but you must make the final decisions.It’s very important that you explain to them how you want things done. Then you must pay close attention to be sure they are doing what you’ve asked.Every time a property manager says you need to repair something you should ask why. We were told once that the kitchen light was broken. Before sending the handyman to repair it, I asked them to first ask the tenant to check the light bulb. Believe it or not, simply changing the light bulb fixed the problem. You want your property managers to only send repair personal when absolutely necessary.Anytime a repair is made on your property, be sure to get a copy of the invoice from the property manager. Look at the invoice to verify that your properties address is on it. If you have any questions about the repair, the contact information will be on the invoice allowing you to call the repairman. Unfortunately there are dishonest property managers. They will charge you for things don’t exist so that they can make some extra money. Keep track of everything and verify it all.The repair people can be your eyes. Be sure the property manager has them pay attention to how the property looks and report back.You want tenants, but only good tenants. Be sure the management company is only bringing in qualified tenants that will pay the rent and take care of the property. Always approve the tenant yourself. Don’t trust it to someone else. Have the property manager discuss the potential tenant with you. Talk about their credit score, if employment was verified, how much money the tenant makes, the back ground check, etc.You will get bad tenants, it’s part of the business, but you will lower the number of bad tenants that you get by doing proper due diligence on them before allowing them in your property.Be Sure That Your Property Manager Is Strict! No excuses should be accepted as to why the tenant hasn’t paid rent. The bottom line is they should pay rent or move out. Otherwise the property manger must evict them immediately.We own a 4-plex in Arkansas. One tenant was late one month. Then two tenants were late. I was busy at the time so I let it go. Then three tenants were late. At this point, busy or not, I needed to call my property manager to see what was going on. She said, “well they’re all having trouble paying the rent….but they called me to say they’d be late!” I told her I don’t care if they call to say they’re going to be late. If they are late you must start the eviction process. That sounds harsh but over the years we’ve learned we have to be. Tenants will take advantage of you if you let them. I told the property manager to send all four units a letter stating that if they were ever late they would be evicted. No excuses. The next month every unit paid on time and they have ever since.Most tenants understand that the most important thing is to keep a roof over their heads. However, if you let them make another expense the priority, they will. They’ll pay that expense first and hopefully pay you when they can if there is money left.The other thing we’ve learned over the years is that by allowing the tenant’s to pay the rent late each month you are actually hurting them. If you let them get behind and pay late one month, then usually it will be harder for them to pay on time the next month. What happens many times is they’ll pay later and later each month and eventually get so far behind that they can’t catch up. At that point you have no choice but to evict them, and in my opinion it’s your fault because you set them up to fail. The rule of thumb is they must pay the rent on time, or at least by the 3-5 day grace period. If not, then your property manager needs to understand that they must start the eviction process. When tenants see that you are serious, they’ll usually pay on time.Be sure that your property managers understand that they are not ever to give the tenant your name or contact information. Make this very clear!We like to always add fire extinguishers in each home or unit we own. Just be sure that you know how long the extinguishers should last and replace them as needed. There may be legal ramifications in your state when adding fire extinguishers so be sure to discuss this with an attorney that practices real estate law in the state the property is located. You should also run this buy your insurance carrier.Most tenants will forget about changing the smoke detector batteries and replacing heating and AC filters so it’s a good idea for you and the property manager to keep track and have them regularly changed. Whoever replaces everything should also inspect the property while they are there to verify that the tenants are taking good care of your property.It can be very helpful for you to use a property manager to manage your properties, however, you must oversee them. Don’t make the mistake of not paying attention to what is happening to your investment.Copyright © 2010 / Michael Gier & MHVProperties.com