Never buy a diamond without a certificate - Without a certificate you could quite easily buy a piece of glass set into an engagement ring setting and be non wiser, but up to $5000 poorer. However a certificate alone does not guarantee a better deal, you need to be proficient in understanding exactly what it is telling you, and how each factor that is covered affects price and quality of ring.

Understand 4 C's of diamonds - Most people know something about 4 C's of diamond buying including, Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color. However very few people know how to each of 4 factors interact to determine price and quality of a diamond.

If you follow this advice you significantly reduce your chance of being fleeced by a dishonest salesman. Treat your purchase as a significant financial purchase. Set your budget up-front and do not go too much above or below price you've set yourself. Try not to get to emotionally involved in purchase and outcome should be favorable.

Peter Vine is the author of "Diamond Ring Secrets" the first easy to read guide to buying the perfect diamond engagement ring. Get a free chapter from the book at:

Reception Steps

The reception starts with a receiving line that includes bride and groom, parents and attendants. At same time it is appropriate for waiters to circulate with drinks and hors d'oeuvres while receiving line is in progress. Background music played. The bride and groom can open dancing either before or after food is served. If you are planning a dinner and dancing reception, "bride and groom's first dance" occurs after dinner followed by bride dancing with her father and groom with his mother after which other guests are allowed out on floor. Toasts should begin at end of meal. The first toast is best man's toast to bride. In re-marriage, bride and groom introduce their children before first toast. Other toasts. Cake cutting ceremony. The garter and bouquet tosses occur just before couple is ready to leave for honeymoon. The guests send couple off for their honeymoon with a shower of rice, rose petals, or bubbles, balloons, butterfly release or doves release.

After honeymoon, do not forget to write thank-you notes.

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Thank you! Nily

Nily Glaser is the CEO of A-wedding Day, http://www.a-weddingday.com a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a discount shopping mall for wedding gifts, supplies and bridal accessories. She is the publisher of the A-wedding Day newsletter and creates personalized unity candles under Candles By Nily http://www.candlesbynily.