Engagement Rings – From Grass to GlitzWritten by M J Plaster
Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but it hasn't always been so. The practice of giving a ring for promise before "I do" dates back to prehistoric times, since cavemen and cavewomen walked earth. The engagement ring predates discovery of diamonds by eons, winding through ancient civilizations, traversing along spice route, and eventually gaining popularity during industrial revolution, fueled by guess what—the most successful advertising campaign of twentieth century. The first engagement rings were thought to belong to cavewomen—simple, practical, maintenance free, easy to replace—hand-crafted from heavy grasses and reeds and later replaced by cord. Some accounts claim that cavewoman was "tied" to caveman by cord. Oh, those lucky brides-to-be! The history of engagement ring is shrouded in same mystery that surrounds intrigue of love; much of it seemingly calculated after-the-fact to explain designs and customs that evolved over time. Accounts differ, and there are contradicting reports on which civilization deserves credit for any given ritual, but all accounts offer a fascinating glimpse into society's attempt to quantify, define and codify love. Among differing accounts, two consistent facts emerge—the promise of eternity and symbolism of eternal loop, continuous, unbroken circle symbolizing eternal love, devotion and commitment. The ancient Roman and Greek civilizations replaced cord rings with crude metal rings crafted of iron. Several centuries later, iron was scrapped in favor of gold. It was shape from which ring received its significance, not material from which it was crafted. The ancient Greeks called it a betrothal ring, borrowed from Anglo-Saxon "troweth," which meant truth—in this case, true love. The ring first evolved from a mere circular loop to hold simple embellishments. Some ancient Roman rings sported a key on ring, which allegedly symbolized key to heart or key to 50% of riches, a less romantic notion. The Fede ring, predecessor to Irish Claddagh ring, appeared around same time, but its origin remains in question, originating in either ancient Greek or Roman civilization—maybe both. The Fede ring, short for "Mani in Fede" in Italian, means hands of love. It held two clasped hands intertwined, almost identical to Claddagh ring.
| | How To Hire A DJ For Your WeddingWritten by Matt Campbell
Hiring music entertainment can arguably be most important booking made for your wedding. Guests remember whether or not they had fun at your wedding. What you pay for is what you get is a good rule of thumb. However, I would like to educate consumer, future brides and grooms, of how to hire a DJ and things to consider. The following are 9 important factors to consider when hiring a disc jockey BEFORE you sign contract.1. Who would be DJ for your occasion? Many DJ companies are a multi-system operation. Be sure to have in writing of who your DJ will be at your event. I would recommend meeting your DJ before hiring company at a neutral place, like a restaurant. 2. How many years experience does your DJ have with your type of function? Anyone can pretend to be a DJ. If you are having a formal event, does your DJ know how to organize a wedding reception or a grand entrance? The DJ should perform type of show that you want! 3. Does DJ get everyone involved dancing or do they just play music? You have to ask yourself if you want a DJ that will get everyone dancing? For example, will DJ involve guests by playing and conducting motivational dances like Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey, Cha Cha Slide or just play music? 4. Will DJ be dressed appropriately? Formal means tuxedo or dress. Semi-formal means dress pants, shirt & tie or slacks and blouse. Casual means polo shirt or company shirt. Be sure DJ is dressed appropriately during set-up and takedown of equipment. Some guests do arrive early and stay late. 5. What is DJ's fee? How much is overtime? Is a tip included in fee? Will there be an extra charge for lighting-what does lighting include? How much is travel to your location? Are you ONLY paying for time DJ performs?
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