Suppose you plan on a Spring wedding theme. Naturally, you’ll have flowers strewn all around, and incorporated into the designs for table cloths, and other elements. How easy it would be to extend that idea to include the wedding favors….

Perhaps you’re thinking of a Fall wedding. Extend your designs to include leaf-shaped soap wedding favors. Oranges, browns and brilliant golds can easily be found. Put one of each in a clear wedding favor box and you’ve got a gift that is decorative for your table and your guests’ bath countertop at home.

Winter weddings are full of snowflake designs. Nothing is easier than to use that idea for soap wedding favors. Carving them into the fascinating shapes of these delightful crystals is simplicity itself for the manufacturer. Clever designers also incorporate personalized ribbons and multiple colors to add a dash of excitement to the lovely white backgrounds.

A long-stemmed rose suggests love and devotion. A long-stemmed rose soap wedding favor can, too. Select a range of natural colors, such as passion red, delicate pink and pure white. Decorate them with personalized ribbons. These can be printed with the names of the bride and groom and the wedding date, or could display a line from a favorite poem.

Beach-themed weddings can also just as easily take advantage of the forms soap wedding favors come in. Starfish-shaped favors of a delicate almond scent make for the perfect gift for guests. They decorate the tables and will decorate the bath of the recipients for years to come. They, too, can be easily personalized by adhering a small sticker to the back.

Since soap is so flexible, a heart-shaped mold is a natural. These small hand soaps are practical as well. Give two and one can be used as a decorative item while the other provides a lovely aroma for the guests in their baths. Enclose them in a wedding favor box that follows your design theme and you’ve got a winning gift.

But soap is more than just flexible, making it easy to mold. It can be formed from many different materials. Opaque soaps are the most common, but translucent bars are still a favorite among many. That opens up new vistas for wedding favors. You can have a range of colors that take advantage of available light to cast delightful shadows. This way it’s easy to add to the stained-glass effect of the windows where you get married.

If you select soap wedding favors you’ll find these lovely and useful items completely gone from the tables after the reception. But, then, that’s the whole idea, isn’t it? You’ll know you chose well.

Related posts:

1. Wedding Favors – Bath Wedding Favors
2. Wedding Favors – Your Favorite Wedding Favors Found Fast
3. Wedding Favors – Spring Wedding Favors

Just Shaddap

It is not good wedding etiquette to just grab the microphone from the bride or groom’s hand when they are trying to say something to everyone at the reception.  People that walk up to the head table and think they can just grab the microphone and say anything they want should be duct taped to their seats for the entire wedding.  It isn’t your wedding; it isn’t your day – so just sit down and shut up.

This IS a Wedding

Off color jokes about the bride during the reception while you have a microphone in your hand and everyone is watching and listening to you is pretty bad wedding etiquette as well.  If you have a raunchy joke to tell about the bride then tell the couple when you are talking to them and even that may be bad wedding etiquette but it certainly bad wedding etiquette to question the bride’s promiscuity when her entire family is there and they are all dressed in wedding attire.  There is a time and place for everything and the middle of a wedding reception is not the time for dirty jokes about the bride.

Don’t Make Your Own Plans

Nothing ruins a reception or a wedding faster than people that think they can plan some elaborate surprise for the couple without first clearing it with the best man.  Receptions are run like clockwork and you never know what the best man has planned so if you really insist on reuniting the old high school cheerleading squad to cheer the groom one last time then you may want to clear it with the best man first.  That is good wedding etiquette.

Keep It to Yourself

If you don’t like the food at the reception or if there is something else you do not like, then keep it to yourself and complain about it when you get home.  There is not better example of bad wedding etiquette than telling the bride how awful you thought the food was as you are leaving the reception.  Tell your own wife about it after you get home and let the bride stay in dream land for a little while.

Related posts:

1. Wedding Invitations and Etiquette
2. Who Pays the Way: Bridal Shower Etiquette Revisited

* Beauty: Inside and Out

While many brides want to look and feel beautiful on their wedding day, preparing your look can be expensive and take time. “For brides that don’t want to spend a lot of money but want to look radiant, there are some great cost-effective beauty products that will add a special glow and a sparkling smile for the pictures on your special day that will last a lifetime,” says Bethany Robertson, founder and president of the I Do Foundation.

With your wedding pictures being memories that will last forever, getting a gorgeous, glowing smile for your wedding photos is easier than ever with a product like Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus. In just 10 days, brides are ready for their close-ups with brighter, sparkling smiles.

Every bride wants to look great in her wedding dress and a healthy glow can add just the right touch. For a sun-kissed look, try Olay Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15. It gives brides a beautiful, healthy glow because it gradually builds color over seven days while protecting your skin from damage with SPF 15.

It used to be that brides “trained for their dress,” but now couples are “training” for a lifetime of good health together. Couples are finding that creating an exercise plan together in the months before their wedding is a great way to look your best, and it also helps relieve stress. Plus, couples are building healthy habits that will last long after they walk down the aisle.

* Love: Giving Back

One of the most personal elements couples are adding to their weddings is a focus on giving back. Together, couples are choosing charities that have special meaning for them, and then sharing a part of their wedding day with the organization of their choice.

The trend of making donations as wedding favors to guests continues to gain popularity in 2007. It’s an easy option for couples, and guests love the highly meaningful and personal gift. And charitable favors are a wonderful way to honor those loved ones who aren’t able to be a part of the couple’s special day.

Couples also are looking to create gift registries with retailers that have a positive impact on the world. In some cases, that means couples are registering with retailers like the I Do Foundation’s partners who make a donation with every purchase. Another great way couples are giving back is by coordinating with their caterer and food rescue programs to ensure that left-over food goes to a good cause.

* Green Weddings

Couples are incorporating elements of healthy, green living into every aspect of their wedding plans, creating fresh events with a social conscience. By being more thoughtful about the impact of their special day, couples are reducing consumption and wedding waste.

Flowers are an important tradition at weddings, but more and more couples are learning about the impact of traditional cut flowers and are opting for organically grown bouquets and potted plants as a decoration alternative. Potted plants can also be taken home by the bride and groom as a reminder of how their love has grown, or given as gifts to guests.

Many couples are opting for healthy food choices for themselves and their guests. Organic and natural foods are showing up on menus across the country as couples look to make their wedding meals as healthy as they are delicious.

With eco-travel being a popular trend, it’s no surprise that newlyweds are looking for green travel alternatives. From staying in “green” hotels to finding romantic eco-tourism getaways, couples are making their honeymoons as green as their weddings.

Start giving back and saving money as you embark on your new life together. And, make sure you glow from skin to smile on the big day by visiting www.whitestrips.com and www.olay.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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3. Searching for Perfection: Finding a Beautiful Wedding Gown

The months prior to her wedding can be the most magical — and stressful — times in a woman’s life. There are so many issues to worry about — fulfilling your dream on your budget, satisfying the expectations of two different families, and deciding and coordinating the numerous details. With all this on your mind, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But if you let the stress take over, your body may soon show the signs in the form of weight gain, under-eye circles and acne. Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, so it’s important to understand early-on how to minimize the stress you’re under and prevent its unpleasant effects.

Here’s some advice on how to control your stress and its impact on your appearance. Keep these in mind and you won’t have to worry about turning into the dreaded “Bridezilla.”

Tips to reduce wedding-related stress

* Delegate responsibility

Don’t take on the entire job of planning alone. Friends and family are sincere when they offer their assistance, so don’t make the mistake of turning down their help. Let them know how you’d like your wedding to look and feel and then hand over tasks based on people’s strengths. Ask your parents to visit local reception halls and tell you about the best two; your sister to think up a few options for decorations within your budget; and your best friend to help you pick out yours and the bridesmaids’ dresses. They’ll be honored to play such an important role in your wedding, and you’ll get a much needed break.

* Establish a regular exercise routine

Make sure to get your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a few times a week. Exercising releases endorphins into your body, which will give you energy and regulate your mood. Exercising is not only a good way to lose a few pounds and gain sexy muscle tone, but it also provides an outlet to release the stress that is built up inside of you.

* Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is likely to be last on your priority list when you’re planning a wedding, but it should be at the top. Repeatedly going without enough sleep will leave you drained and unequipped to deal with stress. Small issues that wouldn’t give you anxiety under normal circumstances can feel like major catastrophes when you are sleep-deprived.

Even with this advice, you can’t be entirely shielded from stress. You’re getting married and a certain amount of nervousness comes with the territory. The good news is that you don’t have to let it show.

Tips to combat the effects of stress

* Potential weight gain

When people get nervous, they tend to eat more, and if brides-to-be aren’t careful, they can pack on the pounds quickly. Try to be mindful when you eat: Is what you’re eating healthy? Are you actually hungry or are you eating as a way to use nervous energy? It may also be smart to invest in a body shaping garment to wear under your dress so that areas of concern aren’t given a second thought.

* Dark circles under the eyes

Dark circles under or around the eyes can be caused by many different things, including heredity, medications, a poor diet and lack of sleep. There’s not much you can do about the first two causes, but if all the stress you’re under has you eating and sleeping irregularly, you need to regain control; and don’t wait until the last minute to do it! Also, make sure you’re armed with a great concealer!

* Acne Breakouts

Everyone has heard that stress and acne go hand in hand. A study published in the July 2003 issue of the Archives of Dermatology offers scientific proof that stress or worry can precipitate or worsen acne breakouts.

All eyes are going to be on you, and the last thing you want to be dealing with is acne, so you need to start caring for your skin now. Prevent pimples from ruining your big day by establishing a daily skin regimen involving products that have specific ingredients to treat and prevent acne, say the skin care experts at Nature’s Cure.

Erika Mason-Chow, a recent bride from San Francisco, took that advice to heart. “I’ve always had problems with pimples, especially when I’m under stress,” she says. “I’ve tried a lot of expensive skin care products over the years with little success. Nature’s Cure Anti-Acne Papaya Skin Care System is the only system that gave me results.”

The Anti-Acne Papaya Skin Care System contains three skin care essentials that utilize the power of papaya and salicylic acid, a proven acne-fighter, to treat and prevent acne without disrupting the skin’s delicate balance. Mason-Chow says that not long after using the system’s cleanser, toner and moisturizer at least once a day, her skin cleared up completely. “I can’t say enough great things about it,” she says. “I love the smell, how my skin reacts to it, how gentle it is. It’s like treating myself to a mini-facial every day.”

Brides-to-be who have more chronic problems with acne may want to supplement the Papaya Skin Care System with Nature’s Cure’s Two-Part Acne Treatment for Females, which includes all-natural homeopathic acne tablets to balance the body, along with the use of a Vanishing Cream made with Benzoyl Peroxide, an anti-bacterial agent, to spot-treat existing pimples.

“The best advice I can give is to start your skin care regimen early. Then, as your wedding date approaches, your complexion will be one thing you don’t have to worry about,” says Mason-Chow.

You can find both the Papaya Skin Care System and Two-Part Acne Treatment in grocery, drug and discount stores including Eckerd, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Meijer, Osco, Rite Aid Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores. For more information about Nature’s Cure, visit www.naturescure.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Acne Prevention Tips

Effective acne prevention requires using the right treatments, but there are also many things you can do on your own to lessen the severity of your breakouts. Take a look at these great tips from the acne prevention experts at Nature’s Cure.

* Eat Healthy: Follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and protein. Limit the amount of fried foods you consume.

* Get enough sleep.

* Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help “detoxify” the body from the inside out.

* Avoid using moisturizers that are not specially made for acne-prone skin, as these products may contain pore-clogging ingredients. Nature’s Cure Acne-Repairing Papaya Moisturizer, part of the Papaya Skin Care System is a great way to prevent dryness while continuing to fight acne all day.

* It’s tempting to try to scrub away acne, but that’s not how to get rid of pimples. Scrubbing too hard or too frequently can actually make your acne worse and promote scarring by increasing inflammation or rupturing cysts under your skin, making bacteria spread.

* Sweat combines with skin oils to trap dirt and bacteria in your pores, causing blackheads and pimples, so it’s important to shower as soon as possible after you work out or sweat profusely.

* Oily hair can aggravate acne, so stay away from greasy products like pomades or hair spray, especially if you have acne along the hair-line or forehead. Also, keep your hair off your face, neck and shoulders by putting it back, especially when you sleep.

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3. The Perfect Wedding Dress

Honeymoons are big business in the United States. With more than 2.4 million weddings occurring each year, those happy couples spend $8 billion a year on their honeymoon (according to About.com.)

With that kind of serious money going into a dream (hopefully!) honeymoon, it’s no wonder that brides spend a considerable amount of time and effort planning what to pack. After all, not every honeymoon destination includes a place to pick up a pair of jeans, especially if a couple chooses an increasingly popular honeymoon destination like a safari, hiking trip, mountain climbing, or a boat trip down an exotic river.

According to Jocelyn Leiser Herndon of The Art Institute of California – San Francisco, the key to successful honeymoon packing is “finding pieces that do double duty.” That way, she says, “you’re almost sure to have what you need no matter where you go.”

For her own honeymoon, Herndon went to Greece which, she says, “is not exactly an exotic location.” Herndon honed her considerable packing skills growing up in a family whose average vacation included canoeing and bike trips. “My family used to have a contest to see which of us could bring the smallest suitcase, but if you got to the destination and were missing something, you were disqualified. Needless to say, I was taught to be a light packer,” Herndon adds.

Weather watching on the Internet also makes a honeymoon less of a risk. For Lindsay Rapp, a Career Services Advisor in the Media Arts & Animation and Digital Media Production department at The Art Institute of Washington, packing for a honeymoon trip to the North Shore of Oahu meant daily weather checks to make sure she and her husband were packing smartly. “With the Internet, it’s much easier to plan around the weather, and to know if you need to pack that raincoat, or if you can leave it at home,” says Rapp. Of course, for Rapp’s husband, packing is a no-brainer, no matter what the weather conditions.

“My husband packs a few short-sleeve polos, khakis, bathing suits and voila! He’s good to go. For me, not so much,” she says. After packing seven bathing suits (one per day, she explains), lingerie (also one per day), cover ups, golf clothes, sundresses, skirts and tank tops, along with wraps for the evening, comfortable clothes, and not including toiletries, Rapp ended up with “a suitcase that weighed more than I did, and I didn’t wear half of what I packed.”

“Double-duty pieces are key,” says Herndon. Whether you’re going to a domestic or international location, remote or in the heart of the city, find items that can work in a number of different ways. “I always bring a shirt or blouse that is casual enough for the day, but that I can throw a cami under or a sweater over and dress it up for the evening.” A pretty shawl is a must too. Not only are they a great cover up during the day if it gets cold, but also are wonderful to curl up in on a plane, especially since fewer airlines are providing blankets.

For shoes, Herndon recommends sandals for warmer destinations, comfortable but nice-looking sneakers, and hiking boots if you plan to climb a mountain or two, or even take an invigorating walk through the woods. A great pair of knit black slacks can be dressed up at night, or worn casually for shopping or museum-going. Knits are a good choice because they don’t wrinkle, and are comfortable enough to stretch with you after a great meal.

A student accountant at The Art Institute of New York City, Elizabeth Kennel recently returned from a honeymoon in Cancun. While Cancun isn’t exactly an exotic or remote location, Kennel did keep on eye on packing versatile pieces. “I was able to wear a fun sun dress casually during the day and translate it into a killer night-on-the-town dress by throwing on a pair of stilettos for my usual flip flops,” she says. Fit and comfort were at the top of her list of priorities. Says Kennel, “It’s your honeymoon — the last thing you want to be worried about are shoes that hurt your feet, or clothes that don’t fit. Nobody wants to spend their honeymoon shopping for a new wardrobe.”

To learn more, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) located throughout North America, provide an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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2. Planning Your Honeymoon
3. 10 Romantic Honeymoon Destinations

With all of the excitement comes the planning and countless decisions. To simplify the process, follow these helpful tips to ensure that preparing for the day of your dreams is a piece of (wedding) cake:

* Mind Your Money: The first step to planning a wedding is establishing a budget. According to the American Wedding Study, 32 percent of couples pay for their wedding themselves. You don’t have to compromise style just because you’re keeping finances top of mind. Try a store like David’s Bridal that offers affordable luxury with fashion-forward and designer gowns from $299 to $1200, allowing couples to save more funds for life after the “big day.”

*Be Prepared: Bridal magazines, websites and bridal shows exist for a reason! Take advantage of these sources to determine what type of bride you are and what type of wedding you want to have before you hit the stores. Try Dress Your Wedding, an online tool that recently launched on the David’s Bridal Web site (www.davidsbridal.com). Here, brides can create the “virtual” wedding of their dreams, experimenting with themes, colors, fashion and accessories, while customizing the skin tone, hair and facial features of their wedding party. With every bridal gown, bridal party dress and accessory, as well as floral arrangements and tuxedos available in a wedding album format, it’s a breeze to coordinate wedding fashions. You can even email a shopping list to your wedding party so that they can print it out for a stress-free shopping experience!

* If the Dress Fits: Squeezing into a gown that is not the right size can take away from the evening and make dancing and mingling with guests more difficult. Be sure to purchase a gown that fits properly and allows you to move freely. Look for a store that carries a wide assortment of gowns in all sizes, so that you can try on a gown in your actual size. In addition, allow at least six to eight weeks prior to your wedding for alterations. Remember to wear the proper foundations and shoes during the fitting so you can envision exactly how the gown will look on your wedding day.

* Enquiring Minds Want to Know: To assist in the decision-making process, it’s always a good idea to bring one person along whose opinion you value to assist with bridal gown shopping. Having someone with you will make the experience more enjoyable, ease concerns about selecting the right gown and provide an extra hand when changing from dress to dress. Also, listen to the advice of educated consultants, as they are there to help and suggest styles that will fit and flatter your body type.

* Keeping it Coordinated: Every aspect of your wedding should reflect your personal style. To ensure a customized look, try a one-stop-shop that allows you to carry a preferred color theme throughout all aspects of your wedding. From a splash of color on the bridal gown and complementing bridesmaids’ dresses, to matching accessories, invitations and even reception favors, David’s Bridal offers color coordination both in store and online, ensuring a seamless look.

* The Icing on The Cake — While the bridal gown is the focal point of wedding fashion, no ensemble is complete without accessories. Many bridal retailers carry coordinating accessories or can recommend options that work well with your gown, so it’s always good to explore this option first. From tiaras and veils to shoes, handbags and jewelry, it’s the small details that are essential to complete the wedding day look.

* Time Saving Solutions: Many women don’t have the luxury of taking time off to plan their wedding. To save time, look to the Internet for solutions. Sites like OurWeddingDay.com have a variety of helpful wedding planning tools such as email-able “save the dates,” a personalized wedding website and an online wedding planner that helps with task lists, table planning and gift tracking. Try purchasing smaller items on a site like DavidsBridal.com that includes hundreds of creative ideas, as well as the option to design, preview and order invitations online; a key time saver.

* It’s Your Party: Advice from friends and loved ones should be taken into consideration, but you should never let their preferences dictate your choices. If you want to get married on the beach while mom wants a big church wedding, talk it out, explain your feelings and ask that she be supportive. It is important to remember that this is your day, every aspect should be 100 percent “you.”

While planning a picture perfect wedding does take time, following these simple suggestions will help to make the process both easier and more enjoyable. So when the special day finally arrives, you can have your (wedding) cake and eat it too!

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Changing your bank accounts

Now that you’re a couple, you may decide to continue to have separate accounts, consolidate into a joint account, or a combination of both. Some husbands and wives, particularly those who both work outside the home, like to keep separate personal accounts for spending and hold a joint chequing account for household bills and a joint savings account for emergencies. It’s one way for each of you to retain some spending freedom and still cover your shared monthly expenses, but it isn’t thrifty if your bank charges you a hefty fee to maintain each account.

If you do decide to open a joint account for day-to-day banking, CIBC offers the Unlimited Chequing Account. It lets you bank as much as you want, without limits, for one flat monthly fee and no monthly balance requirement (additional fees will apply on any withdrawals at non-CIBC bank machines). For more information, talk to your CIBC advisor, visit your nearest CIBC branch, call 1 800 465-CIBC (2422), or visit www.cibc.com.

Be credit card smart Review your credit card accounts and make the necessary name change, if appropriate.

Instead of having a large number of credit cards, why not retain just one or two and add your spouse as an authorized user. It will be easier to keep track and you’ll also cut down on the time it takes to manage multiple bills and statements.

To help you stick to your budget, look into CIBC’s new CIBC CreditSmart features. CIBC Visa is the only credit card in Canada to offer this revolutionary array of features, to help you track and manage your card spending. CIBC CreditSmart gives you the information and tools to make confident credit decisions that are right for your married life.

With CIBC CreditSmart you’ll get an enhanced monthly statement where you can track and manage your monthly and year-to-date spending in 10 common spend categories. You can set up personal budgets for each of these categories online and spend alerts to notify you when you’ve exceeded your budgets, or if you’re coming close to your credit limit. You can also create your own spend categories, to track areas that are of particular importance to you, or ones that you want to keep an eye on. And that’s not all: you get increased security protection at all times with Credit Report Alerts, Fraud Alerts, and Identity Theft Assistance.

How you use all the CIBC CreditSmart features is totally up to you, and best of all they’re available on CIBC credit cards at no additional charge. For an in-depth look at CIBC CreditSmart and our CIBC Visa Card options visit: www.cibc.com/visa or cibccreditsmart.com or call 1 866 438-2422.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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If you are lucky enough to have received money for a down payment as a wedding gift, or one or both of you owns a house or condo you’re considering selling to trade-up to a family home, it’s really worthwhile talking to a mortgage expert before you talk to the real estate agent. Gathering relevant financial information is your first step to home ownership. Before you fall in love with a home, you’ll want to know that your financing has already been arranged, and the following questions have been answered:

. How much can we afford?

. What’s a comfortable mortgage payment for us?

. What are the additional costs?

. How fast do we want to pay down our mortgage?

In fact, many real estate agents may encourage you to get a pre-approval before they begin working with you; and, when you have your mortgage financing arrangements in place it indicates to prospective vendors that you are a serious buyer. It also gives you the security of negotiating a house price that falls comfortably within your budget.

Consider applying for a CIBC Pre-Approved Mortgage Certificate and shop for your first home together with confidence. You get a guaranteed interest rate for 60 days from the date of the pre-approval certificate (or 90 days if you are considering buying a new construction home), plus the lowest CIBC rate that occurs for that mortgage during the guaranteed period – whether the mortgage rates go up or down.

A CIBC advisor can discuss your specific situation and give you all the information you need, or visit www.cibc.com/mortgages for useful mortgage calculators and articles to help you with your research.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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But more importantly, do you have a financial plan for after the wedding? Have you discussed the other “M” word – money? Do you have a financial plan and an everyday budget? Do you know how much you can spend and who is paying for what in your new life together. An important element of a successful marriage is the ability to handle money together. Money is an important resource, which, when handled well, can give you the choice of living the way you want to, both now, and in the future.

For richer and poorer

It’s part of most marriage vows, but do you really think about the implications? Having enough to spend on the things you want to accomplish together is important. When a husband and wife are not on the same page as far as family finances go, other difficulties inevitably arise.

Money talks

Talking about money can be difficult for some, especially when you’re in love. It may not be romantic, but it’s an absolute must for the health of your marriage. Unresolved money issues are a leading cause of divorce. So, don’t wait until you’ve said “I do” – start talking today. Find out what money means to each of you. Are you the saving kind or the spending kind? Discuss your future goals – like buying a home, career changes, starting a family etc.

Marriage is a blending of lifestyles and, as unromantic as it sounds, bank accounts and debts. That’s where the “for richer or for poorer” part comes in. You may think you know everything about your fianc�, when you really only know what he or she has told you and the answers to any questions you’ve thought to ask. That can leave a lot unsaid, especially when it comes to money.

So to get you started, here are 10 topics to consider:

1. What are your short-term and long-term goals? Sharing your dreams and setting your priorities (a home, children, maybe traveling the world) will decide your lifestyle now and in the future.

2. How much are you going to put away each month to reach your goals?

3. How much does your fianc� make and what percentage is contributed to an RRSP?

4. How much debt and savings (including investments and real estate) are you each bringing into your marriage? If there are debts, how will they be repaid?

5. How many credit cards do you have between you? If it’s many, think about consolidating.

6. What employee benefit packages do you have? What are the options? How much are your contributions? Is it worth upgrading to a single “family” plan, if available? What do you pay for health and disability insurance?

7. Do you want to pool all your resources? Establish a joint chequing account? Divide investing responsibilities? There’s no right or wrong answer; it’s what works for you.

8. Who will balance the chequebook, track expenses, pay the bills and monitor your investments? Who is the best money manager? Did you grow up in a family who watched every dime or where money flowed freely?

9. What level of dollar amount will require a joint decision on a purchase?

10. How much do you need to put away for the unforeseen? A good rule of thumb is to have enough in an emergency account to cover three to six months worth of expenses should one of you lose your job or be temporarily unable to work through sickness or an accident.

Don’t stop at the talking stage

You will need to come to an agreement on the basics. Most couples discover that down the road, a lack of money, out-of-control spending, or a lack of emergency savings will eventually cause major marriage problems. Without a plan for saving and spending, you tend to live and spend day-to-day. An agreed-upon budget will help you avoid misunderstandings about how you spend your money. Develop a written financial plan, complete with goals, individual duties and financial policies. And the plan is just the first step. Even if only one partner manages the bills, it is important for both partners to stay fully abreast of the family’s financial status. Check your progress every month, and adjust your plan accordingly. Unexpected expenses are certain to occur – that unplanned little bundle of joy, for example!

If you need help, talk to a CIBC advisor, who can walk you through CIBC’s Financial Health Check to understand your goals and set up a financial plan tailored to your new lifestyle. Or visit your nearest CIBC branch, call 1 800 465-CIBC (2422) or visit www.cibc.com.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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3. Plan for the Wedding and for Life in any Economy

Although the rush of summer weddings seems months away (especially for anxious brides counting down the days), personally-made wine needs time to age before it’s enjoyed, so it’s never too soon to get started.

Wine kits are available featuring grape varieties from around the world. How to choose? First, consult with the winemaker at your local wine store (find a wine store in your neighbourhood at www.rjspagnols.com). Next, select the wine that’s right for you by asking yourself these four questions:

. What’s our budget? Standard wine kits (which yield 30 bottles each) range in price from $80 to $200.

. What do we like to drink? Like all elements of your wedding, your wine should reflect you as a couple. You can make wine in an endless number of varieties, from Amarone to Zinfandel – choose a personal favourite to serve on your special day.

. What time of the year is it? For the summer months, consider a crisp white, like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from RJ Spagnols’ En Primeur Collection. For a fall wedding, why not try a ruby red Australian Cabernet Shiraz Merlot from RJ Spagnols’ Cru Select line – both are award-winning wines, so you’re sure to please your guests.

. Do we want our wine to symbolize anything? Maybe you met under the Tuscan sun, or got engaged on a trip Down Under. To commemorate those memories at your wedding, why not make a wine from one of the great wine regions of the world?

Once you’ve made your selection, work with your wine store winemaker to get the kit started. In just a few weeks, you’ll be taking the wine home to age, serve and enjoy.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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