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In today's world, it should be whoever can afford it!
Should I pay for the wedding?
Maybe tradition says the bride's family should cover the wedding, but is that always the solution? Who should pay for the wedding?
If the bride has been living at home or college, the Bride's family pays for the wedding according to etiquette...but there are factors to consider! If the Bride has been on her own or living with her intended, her family are only 'contributors'.
That being said, too much is made of break the bank weddings! We did a beautiful wedding for 300+ guests on $5000, with buffet dinner and dancing! Get creative & make the wedding fit the budget and NEVER take a loan on it!
Uh-OH!!! Loan taken out already. Wedding was in Sept. I totally agree with your comments, but what do you do when they, the couple, go by complete etiquette: want everything according to tradition? They have been living together for 1 + years. I like the lady's answer below. Shoud have had an honest sit down with families. also, mother of groom is widowed. I am also a single mom. So dad, really picked up All of the cost for reception. A huge loan!!!
Put a cap on costs!!! You can have what you want but within reason. Rent silk florals to decorate the church and reception with instead of buying flowers that will die. Use the $10 bottles of champagne instead of the $150-$200. Opt on a heavy horsd'euvres instead of a sit-down dinner. Let the cake be the only sweet. Be honest with your daughter...my mother and I had a long talk and she told me what she could afford and we stuck to it. I even lucked out the dress I was in love with in Bride was on sale and I got it for $700 instead of the $1800 it was originally. I got the flowers I wanted to carry...but I made my bride's maids flowers and my flowergirl's from beautiful silk roses from Micheal's. The centerpiece's were rented and the Church was so beautiful on it's own we just paid for the One arrangement on the alter and made bows for the pews. We had over 250 guests,a limo to the reception, a live band and did it all for under $25,000. That included my parents paying for hotel rooms for out of town family and feeding them for two days. My parents did not take out a loan...this is what they had in savings that they had saved for my big day. This was a society wedding done to make Emily Post proud but on a budget that most of my friends would have laughed at...but we did it and so can you... You just have to be creative and think and compromise. Since they have been living together already Emily Post would let you off the hook...tradition says they get married before they live together, if they want to get technical on you...you have your out. So be firm tell them what you can afford or tell them they can take out a loan and help pay for it.
I agree. We started out with a budget of $6,000.00 which kept getting whittled away by major car repairs this year so in the end we did it for $3,800.00, having to cut out some things we wanted like videographer and d.j. Afterwards though I asked my daughter if she was pleased with her wedding reception and she said that she was and that she had everything she wanted so that made me feel better and I realized it IS possible to do a nice wedding reception for a lot cheaper than you'd think. Of course some who attended may have thought ours was not as nice as others, but as long as my daughter was pleased I didn't care. She's the only one that mattered.
Communication is a goes a big way when anyone gets married ~~ why do we have to keep up with the "Jones's" ~~ the most important thing when 2 people get married is the LOVE they share with each other ~~ Julie you said you had to cut out the DJ, if there is anyone in a family that would donate time to be the MC to introduce everyone as the walk into the hall and the 1st dance; dance with Mom & Dad; then just play nice music from a CD (you can purchase weddinge CD's) I think it's sweet!!!!
Absolutely, Julie! Our kids got the things they wanted (Dad Barbecued for 3 days because that's what they wanted) and I consented to paper napkins! Daughter designed the flowers and we did them that morning- almost froze keeping them cool...but best of all are the memories we all shared! And
My 29 year old daughter has stressed me over costs. She wants me to write her a blank check and plans on getting everything she wants. When I try to discuss money, she gets a nasty attitude. She doesn't live at home. She lives with her fiance. This is her second attempt at marrying the same guy. She will not assure me she will follow thru with the marriage. I have decided to just give a donation toward the wedding. She tells me I worry over the wrong thing.. money.
My daugher's boyfriend, of 8 years, is about to finish up his Doctorate. He is now fielding job offers, and wants to teach at the graduate school level. So, according to my daughter, they have been pre-planning their wedding for some time. We will be glad to contribute, but she has said that they have both been working for quite some time and do not expect us to pay for a "securing a second mortgage" type of wedding. They are perfectly happy keeping it small with just their best friends, family, and probably some college colleagues (and whatever we would like to give toward the festivities will be greatly appreciated). I am excited about getting things rolling on this. I'm contemplating a Christmas engagement, and a spring wedding, as graduation is in May.
I have worked in the wedding ministry at my church for quite some time. And in doing so you get to use the church wedding planner, catering friends, facilities, etc. and just pay for food when the "big day" comes.
I think it was great of your daughter not to put that pressure on you.
My parents and me and my two sisters all eloped so I really don't have experience with even planning a traditional wedding. However I believe that if the man and woman have both lived separate from the parents for a while I think they should pay for their own wedding. If the couple has lived together they should definitely pay for the wedding. Even if one or both live with their parents I still believe it is appropriate for them to pay for or at least contribute to paying for the wedding. The only time I think it might be appropriate for the bride's family to pay is when the bride's family wants to pay and/or has the money to pay.
My son just got married, We had an honest sit down with the families and just started whittling away at responsibilities. We were able to decide who would pay for what and before it was over everything was taken care of.
I totally agree with the way things were done here!!! An honest sit down is what is called for these days!!!
i also agree with this comment my son is getting married in ten days and we have payed for all of the wedding i think both sets should of parents should of sat down and talk about what going to happen if the brides parent cannot afford to pay it,s best to talk about it because it avoids embarassment on the big day. If i had had a daughter i would have been saving from that day to give my daughter the best day ever
I totally agree and I will do the same & will include my EX as I feel if he wants to be part of the wedding he needs to contribute !! I already explained to my daughter we (her stepfather) and I wouldn't be able to pay for all of it and expenses would need to be kept to a minimum but I would be willing to sit with her b/f's Mom (she is a widow) to see if she would like to contribute which my daughter said she most definitely would because he is her "baby" !!
My mom paid way more then my dad and MIL combine, the agreement was to split, but the in laws still think that they spent to much as for my mom saving wasn't possible she spent 20 year paying off my dad debt that he left us, no point in talking to him about it in his view my mom deserved it and if it affected us well not his problem, so we do what we can, but it would have been nice it my dad and in laws help out but they don't .
Honestly, the original way years ago was a joint and community celebration including pot luck! How we got so out of whack is beyond me! Think about it, one day, one celebration and a lifetime of other costs!! We were so blessed that both of our daughters and their future spouses believed it was basically their responsibility. They had more discretionary income at the time. They were not living with their future husbands and they were both in college. Having said that, we did all sit down and discuss and we were helpers with some things. They each had beautiful memorable weddings, complete with dance receptions. They each were so price conscious they spent under 4,000 including dress! You can truly do so much and make it so beautifully personal if you keep everyone involved and participating in the final celebration. Oldest daughter found her dress at a consignment shop, his aunt sewed the bridesmaid dressed and we made the flowers. Her biggest expense was the pictures! The second daughter bought her dress off the show floor in California at the garment district for $150, we got tuxes for her little brothers for $37 complete. The closet dress we found back home comparable to the dress was $1000. Totally worth the airfare! She bought her flowers at 85% off and had two wonderful friends take the pictures! They each had some food at the reception, not huge dinners, just good snacks and plenty of choices. I might add that the year the second daughter had her wedding she bought a book (2nd hand) on How to have a wedding at half cost! The average given in the book was $20,000! We have totally lost our senses here, on purpose of the wedding. Isn't it so that the couple begins a long marriage? It appears we have a wedding today to show off what we really can't afford, just so the fairy tale takes place, when we really need to focus on the marriage. Just my thoughts.
My wedding dress was $22 on sale, and I paid $20 for each bridesmaid dress (3 dresses = $60 total).
My dress was $20 as well. It was a well made black and white flowy dress with masses of sequins and fit my ever growing baby belly. Very shiny! Went great with the red black and white theme!
I have a theory, marriage is really hard, it has its good points, but its not all a picnic, and nowadays I think too many people take it for granted how easy it is to "get married", they don't really think it through with many marriages ending in divorce months or years later with all that money being lost. My opinion, the couple should be required to save and pay for the wedding on their own, this way the couple is challenged with immediately accepting reality. If they actually make it to the alter after saving, scraping, earning and bickering...they should then be rewarded with whatever monies their families would have given them for the wedding...
In other words, their not wasting all that money on a wedding, the money could then be used to put towards a house, or a much needed car. Or maybe to start paying of college debt.....
Wishful thinking on my part....
I was 29 when I finally got married 11 years ago but I never expected my parents to pay for my wedding. However I also did not have an over the top Kardashian style or even a "Father of the Bride" dream wedding planned. I wanted to keep things fun, simple and elegant. I didnt want my parents to have to get a mortgage just to pay for it. Too many kids these days EXPECT their parents to go over the top and I think thats just ridiculous and selfish. At least the bride and groom should be willing to cut costs where they cana nd to also help out. I lucked out and got my dress on clearance, I actually paid more for my shoes, veil & head piece than I did my dress b/c I got such a good deal on it. Our church/reception hall didnt allow alcohol so that wasnt a problem for me (I dont drink) and I did my own flowers by shopping at wholesale stores. For our dinner we opted for an English Tea instead of a sit down dinner. We had 6 types of finger sandwiches, veggies, hot tea, iced tea, coffee's (all in a variety of flavors), cake etc. Our guests had a blast and loved the concept b/c they were able to go up and eat as often as they wanted and the food wasnt so heavy that they felt overfull. They could go up have a few sandwiches, dance, socialize and then go get more later on.
I think that the bride and groom should pay. They are th ones that know how they want their wedding and should be able to budget accordingly. If parents on either side decide to offer help, then by all means. But nothing financial should be expected like that.
My daughter and her husband married in September. They are college students, and paid for their own wedding and their own attire. Granted it was a small wedding, but given today's economy and the fact that we, her parents, are unemployed, she wanted to do it herself. They are using the money they have saved up to go on a really nice honeymoon cruise during the Christmas holidays while they are on break from school.
Unfortunately tradition is often out the window these days. In 2002, we paid for our son's wedding...complete with me doing all of the work (with help from dear friends and of course the Bride to be)...I did the cake (4 tiers and different flavor every one), the cooking, serving, decorating, and transforming our backyard into her special day. Her parents were supposed to help...we couldn't afford the day either...but all we ever saw was $25 from her Grandmother.
I suggest, you do what your heart tells you to do! In the end, I have some great memories with the daughter I never had (I have 3 boys).
$25 wow that's bad. What I thought was a bit funny was that the inlaws who I had never met all of a sudden avoided our calls when we said we were getting married. I suspect they were worried we would ask them to chip in. Or maybe they were angry we were rushing things as he proposed after 3 months and the wedding was set 7 weeks away. But i knew on our first date i wanted to marry him as hes perfect. Our Calls would only go thru when I put the phone on silent. It actually really hurt my feelings cos now I feel really rejected and unimportant. Im quite well off and already had a good paying job and owned my own home before meeting my husband and he's an engineer so we really didn't need ther money. Anyway our wedding and honeymoon cost $5000 which was a nice surprise from my parents.
Its suppose to be the brides family , BUT, when my son got married 4 years ago , the brides family tried to get us to pay for 1/2 of the wedding .. we told them no , not that , we would love to , But we was on limited income .. ( SSI/d .. ) there is a movie out , called , "MY FAMILY WEDDING " funny , too
but this is what happen , with her sisters wedding (my daughter in laws , wedding ) her parents , didnt want to pay being she had a child out of wed lock .. no biggie though .. they ( groom & wife , ) paid for it , had a buffett diner , DVD's , no host bar .. it was one of the best weddings i have gone to . ! now my son wishes , he can , have a do over ..
when we got married , we got married by civil services , ( court .. ) he was wrking I wasnt ..
If the bride is young and so is the groom, then the tradition is that the bride's family cover the wedding and the groom's family the rehearsal dinner. However, when I married I had been on my own for a good 10 years and my husband-to-be was a widower, so we paid for the wedding. $2500 included a buffet, plenty of wine and champagne, and music provided by family and friends, enjoyed by some 700 people. We also did the rehearsal dinner at home. My husband made his world-class brisket an I supplied the salad, beans, and so on. And we got a keg.
One secret to an inexpensive wedding is to find free places to hold the various events, especially ones where you don't need to spend a fortune to decorate. Our ceremony was held in the courtroom where my husband worked as a bailiff, and the reception at the museum where I worked. Rental and decorating costs? $0.00.
We paid for our step-son's wedding, too. It cost a grand total of $1000. The ceremony was held at a gorgeous Watergarden in a public park, the reception was in our backyard, transformed by white sheets and fairy lights into a romantic garden, and the post party was at the bar where my stepson was working at the time. Again we served brisket and beans, a Texas standard, and we had a keg, a wedding gift from our stepson's boss.
Imagination and creativity can trump expense every time. There really is no need for these $30,000 weddings with guys in pink cummerbunds. The vows and the family get-together is what really matters.
The bride's family paying is the traditional way. The groom's family usually pays for rehearsal dinner. If the bride's family is destitute, then I see no problem with the groom's family stepping up to help. If it's the second (or subsequent) wedding the bride and groom should pay for it.
I agree.
this winds me up heaps - marriage is not compulsory and in this day and age if you want to get married you should pay for your own wedding.
I wouldn't dream of giving my mother (a widow on limited income) a list of must haves for my dream day, and I know that my partners family could certainly afford a big wedding for us but would want too much say in the day. As an adult I can be responsible for the things I want and I think it's incredibly rude to accept money from someone and then not include them on how the money is spent. In the end we decided a home and high quality education for our kids was way more important to us and have not married (we would want a big wedding) we have 2 great kids and been together 10 years, still going strong. The $30000 or so we would have spent on a wedding is in trust for the kids private education, and the grandy's are more than welcome to contribute to that if they like.
I get that some people marry for religious reasons and in that case I'd guess parents will have been saving since birth, but let's face it, most people are not getting married because they feel they are going to hell if they don't
Pay for your own wedding! If your parents offer to chip in accept it. We didnt ask the grooms family to pay for anything but my parents offered to do it with a budget of $5000. It's crazy when "little miss princesses" expect mummy n daddy to fork over $30,000 for the dream wedding then get the poops when they say "no". I want my parents to enjoy there hard earned money not waste it on one day that cost $30,000. I would have been happy to pay for it all ourself. But it was nice for them to gift money. I did it all on a budget. Being a florist I did my own flowers for the reception church, flower girls button holes etc. (We had white phalaenopsis orchids with black calla lillies and red roses,) my wedding dress actually only cost $20 as the shop we went to only had one left and it was a rather large size which was great cos I was pregnant (and fat), it wasn't the traditional just white dress. It actually had black sequens all around the boob area and then was long and flowing white layered fabric.it suited me very well as I always wanted a black and white dress. Im actually a bit of a whizz with hair and makeup and did brown smoky vintage look eyes with red lipstick for everyone and the hair was an updo with tight curls and curls hanging down. Our dresses were reduced from $130 each to $9.01c and were black and white knee length fitted linen dresses. Being a keen scrapbooker we did invites ourselves but they still cost $200 to make. Our reception was actually really cheap at a tiny $35 a head (with alcohol ??) as we went to our favorite restaurant that we go to every week. It's actually a Chinese restaurant but more fine dining and they were so nice not to jack the prices up on us. We left for our honeymoon but everyone ended up at the country club afterwards. We had the wedding at the Hoskins uniting at Lithgow. It's a huge almost cathedral like church that seats masses and is just beautiful! It has huge stained glass windows, gothic style with landscaped gardens that r the best in our town.
So anyway see I proved that you can have a wedding on a budget. Anyway newly weds should be saving for houses not getting huge loans out for one day or sending family broke or shaming them. We would rather save our money and put it in our mortgage for the future. Or save that wedding money to send the baby to a good school or be able to afford braces. It's just too many of my friends have wasted money on weddings that have been cancelled or ruined or have run up so much debt they cant get out. A stupid friend of mine wanted the 3999$ dress and lied to her husband and didn't pay the rent or car loans. They were evicted a month after the wedding. How stupid!
I think it should depend on what you can afford and what the couple wants, as long as the couple realizes your financial limitations. I know if I did it over again, I would have refused their help, as my parents really played up the "we're paying, so we decide" card (even on issues where what my now husband and I wanted would be feasible and cheaper to do).
In 2001, at 21, & 23 My Husband and I got married. We had a 5 and 1/2 month long engagement, and Both sets of Parents Generously went 1/2's for the whole thing. As Hubby was 2nd son, and they had done the same for older son's wedding they were fine with that. My MIL was so over the moon as we had invitaiton day (where we home printed, and then home sealed all our invitations), then Bonbierre day and included her with each of these, which she had thought she would miss some of these things after having no daughters of her own, and the first wedding they had basically just written a cheque for their half, and the Bride's family had done it all. It was lovely to include her. Anyway, We did our wedding for under $7000.00 AUS, which inclded a 3 course buffet meal, my dress, Our (and a friends ) cars (we're Holden mad, and had a white SS of our own, and a Friend had a Blue HSV, which were our wedding colours!! ) Church (I was the 4th documented generation of my family to be married in that church!) flowers (church only required a donation and the Ladies of the church decorated from thier own gardens as a family favour to me!) a generous bar tab,(which the left over paid for our honey moon suite!!)
We all had a BLAST !! It was one of the best weddings I have ever been too, I was totally stress free, and laughed my way down the ailse!!! All those that attended said the same, and My FIL was stoked that his half came to $3000.00 when he had offered to pay for an elopement and we'd have a huge BBq when we got home, I saved him $7000.00 !!! lol ( I paid for my own dress, which was a $5000.00 dress, but was a second, so I got it for $1300.00, it was just missing some beads under the arms (which no one saw) and had two little black marks on 1 of the petticoats, but there were 4 more between the marks and the dress, so no one saw them either!!)
So you can do a wedding to any budget you set, to any time line you set.
We found that by having a dinner with both sets of parents once we announced our engagement, we discussed everything and were all up front about our wants/desires/needs and set about achieving it the best way we could!
If I were to have another wedding ( Not that I do, Hubby and I are still going strong!!) as A 30 + (or More) I wouldn't dare expect parents to pay, It'd be up to me and Groom! If I had have been older, and working for longer I probably would have paid more for myself for our wedding.
My daughter just got married in September. A beautiful wedding for around 300 people. But we told them when they got engaged we would only give them so much money and they needed to work out how the rest would get paid. Since we had over a year to plan, the places of business they used have worked out a contract to make payments before the big day. After all was said and done, they had everything pretty well paid for and the money we promised them paid the rest ($2500). What I liked is that she worried about the cost and what she could afford. She also used and borrowed decorations from family and friends and made them into her own.
I think both parties should pay for it or even the two parties getting married should help. I paid for my own wedding of 250 people. I split the wedding list in half for each side. My inlaws wanted to add more without paying a cent and I said only if you help out with the open bar, they didn't so the same amount remained. We are now in the 21st century so I think this has to change. Everyone should help out specially today with the economy.
If you want a lavish wedding and can't afford it, pay for what you can afford. If your fience wants a lavish wedding and you can't afford it, he should pay for it. I know men who wanted a church wedding; but his fience could not afford it. They paid all the bills so he could have the large wedding. I know a woman who wanted a lavish wedding but she could not afford it. Her in-laws to be paid for the wedding. When it comes to your wedding, it's up to you and your future husband. Throw tradition out the window and do what makes both of you happy.
I think with the economy like it is and cost of living through the roof, the families (and the couple) should all sit down and discuss costs and just do the best that they can with what they can contribute. My son is engaged and I DO NOT expect his fiance's single mom to pay for the whole thing. That is completely unreasonable. My son just graduated college and secured a good job and is already saving for their wedding next spring. We all plan to just work together to make this a day to remember but not go overboard.
We have 6 daughters and the first one just got married this year. We payed for the majority of the wedding, because we felt it was our responsibility. However our daughter payed for some things that she wanted that weren't in our budget. My mother also contributed money for a few things such as hair and nails, without us even asking because she wanted to. I think that parents should plan on paying for their daughter's wedding. However having said that I think that there should be a firm budget from the beginning based on what is reasonable for your family's financial situation. Then if your daughter wants something more elaborate than what you can afford it should be her and her fiance's responsibility to either come up with the additional funds themselves or scale down their plans to fit the budget. We almost had a second daughter getting married at the same time and we weren't going to be able to afford it and the prospective groom's family offered to pay for the reception. I think this is okay as long as their family isn't going to try to take away the bride's choices for what she wants. Same goes for say grandparents wanting to pitch in and then have a say. It is the bride and groom's day and people can give opinions when asked for, but ultimately only the bride and groom should be making the decisions. If you think someone offering to pay is going to try to get what they want in the wedding and it will cause conflict, politely decline their offer of financial assistance. It's not worth the stress.
great topic when I was married in 1978 we had roughtly 165 people.. back then it was $17.00 a person for dinner, this included a huge midnight buffet (as we are portuguese and get hungry after all the dancing lol) it's just a tradition. But now a days a wedding like that costs close to $70,000. i didn't hve any frills, my honeymoon was at the thousand islands near Kingston... it wasn't until we were married 15 years that we went on a decent holiday and lucked out in winning that in a contest at my bank. My dad at the time paid for our families side, my husband and I paid for his side as his mom was a widow and could not afford it. Whatever cash gift I received ended up goin to pay for my husbands family side.. so we didnt have much per se. I know someone who mortgaged her house twice to pay for her kids weddings; and these kids worked for themselves.sorry if that is the case, they can pay for their own wedding. They should ahve given their parents the money so that they didnt' mortgage themselves to death. No matter how good a child you had, you should never do that to yourself when you are nearing your retirement years. Our lives are just waytoo busy, over taxed, no time.. we shouldn't be forking over that kind of cash for elaborate celebrations. Great to read these inputs today! Have a wonderful holiday weekend for our Canadian Patrons celebrating Thanksgiving this Monday!
I think both familys should, & if the once getting married can give a little then they should too, that also helps them to know that life is not as easy as they think. In this days the more help one has the better, too expensive life is
the bride's family should cover the wedding? where you from? wow! in my country usually its the grooms family that cover for the wedding..but then nowadays couple save for their dream wedding and doesn't bother their parents to pay..parents help in a way that they can sometimes. or just give a gift for their future.
I'm originally from Philadelphia, PA. Now in Camp Hill, PA. Where you from? Wish it was like that here!!! Oh no, Bride's family is totally responsible, except for engagement part, and rehearsal dinner. According to tradition, Grooms family does this. This is even a huge responsibility!!!
I have never in my life or travels seen or heard where the grooms family pays for a wedding. He is the man of the household!
Daughter is 30...living with boyfriend for 10 years. As her father (she has lived living out of state for 20 years) what are my financial responsibilities? Please advise
Today, my daughter who is not even formally engaged, let me know that I was paying for her wedding in April. Mind you, I live in Alaska and am a teacher and she is getting married, like I said, IN APRIL. So, I will end up having to take leave without pay because I only get 5 days a year and have already used 2 1/2, then I will have to spend about $600 a person (husband, 2 sisters and 2 brothers, and me) to get down to Utah, where she is getting married, AND the kids will have to miss school...and then she springs it on me that her and her alleged soon-to-be fiancee had anticipated my paying for the wedding...did I mention I am a teacher with OTHER children? I am floored that this was an expectation. Her response to my surprise and confusion was a significant amount of crying. I am at a loss. At this point I feel a whole lot like doing absolutely nothing. Does it change anyone's mind to know that I also pay for her college tuition, bought her a very nice car, pay for the car's expenses, and pay for her college housing (which is due today). I can't stop shaking my head...
what if the brides family is worried about how they will look based on what my future daughter-in-law wants her wedding to be like? She likes "Shabby Sheek" and wants to be married in a beautiful barn and their grounds (which hosts many weddings) I love her idea's and think it will be a very romantic wedding. Her parents somehow think this typed of wedding idea is somehow beneath them and is trying to talk her into something they want instead of what she and my son want for their wedding day. How do I gently explain to the in-laws that I am willing to pay for half of their wedding but I want it to be their dream not the in-laws. ???? Help!
It doesn't matter. Whoever can afford it.
Does she still live at home? If so, then Yes, I'd say most of it.
Does the bride already have kids? then I'd say NO, don't pay for it all.
Who ever wants to!
It's a grand event... let who ever pay.. his side, her side, both, what ever..
Me and my hubby and my family and his all helped to pay for our wedding...
No one cares when you are drinking and dancing and eating cake and laughing and taking pictures..
Nike shox (R4, NZ, OZ, TL1, TL2, TL3) $34
Handbags ( Coach Lv fendi D&G) $35
T-shirts (polo, ed hardy, lacoste) $16
Jean (True Religion, ed hardy, coogi)$34
Sunglasses (coach, Gucci, Armaini)$15
New era cap $9
Bikini (Ed hardy, polo) $18
If they are grown adults over 25 they should
I am getting married next year and both families are contributing to the wedding, my mom is paying for a lot but not all, we will buy a lot of the stuff ourselves, rings, flowers bridesmaids dresses etc. basically my mom is paying for the meal and his dad is getting the photographer. I think it's only right that we contribute to the wedding ourselves, it's 2012 not 1912!
My husband and I did our complete wedding for under $1000
which tradition says the bride's family should pay...are we talking about Hindu tradition here...I thought for the rest of the planet men paid for it and in some cases maybe some help from the bride n her family but mostly men paid all expenses ...starting with the first date's expense all the way to the grave...isn't that why men are the bread winners, fathers soldiers, warriors, head of the household while women are the beauty of the earth, mothers, mercy for all mankind from their Lord, respected personalities and protected sacred beings who's company men should consider themselves blessed...
mmm where do bride's pay for their wedding n why...r the men of mother earth dead..
This is the tradition in the United States of America.
I think it should be 50/50. If either party can't afford something big, then go small. Make the food yourself, get a friend or family member to do the photos, etc.
My question is this: If the groom's family is significantly larger than the bride's are the bride's parents still expected to foot the bill?
When our oldest daughter told us she was getting married we were expecting something small and intimate. We only have about 10 people on our side of the family. Then we met with his parents and the guest list jumped to about 100. And then they said they didnt have money to help because they were going on a cruise. All I heard through the whole planning period from the MIL to be was "we should do this" "we should do that". When I finally put my foot down and asked if she was going to help pay I got a "well, no, we dont have the money". I will say though, the groom's family did pull together and we had a pot luck buffet at the reception. It did turn out to be a wonderful day, but there was a lot of bitter feelings on our part.
If you can afford it
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3-Year-Old's Cerebral Palsy Dramatically Improved After Receiving Injection of Own Stem Cells
According to recent reports, scientists successfully used the umbilical cord blood of a young girl to treat her own cerebral palsy. That three-year-old girl, Sasha Browne, was injected with the stem cells from her umbilical cord blood and she is now able to walk, talk, and see better than before.
Sasha took part in the pioneer study last year in the U.S. She is the first British child to try the treatment, since the trial isn't allowed in the United Kingdom. During the trial, Sasha had stem cells injected into her blood stream through her ankle. Doctors hoped that the stem cells would travel through her body and repair the damaged tissue in her brain.
Her mother, Tania, is convinced that the stem cell treatment is responsible for her daughter's drastically improved condition. However, she admits that she can't be 100% certain that the treatment is the only reason that her daughter is better since she also had speech and occupational therapy, as well as physiotherapy. Nevertheless, Sasha's therapists are impressed by her rapid improvement compared to children with similar impairment from their cerebral palsy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Up, Down.
2001 Monster's Ball, Marc Forster,
Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry.
1963 Irma la Douce, Billy Wilder,
Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine.
1994 Natural Born Killers, Oliver Stone,
Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis.
1991 Cape Fear, Martin Scorsese,
Nick Nolte, Robert De Niro, Juliette Lewis.
1998 Wild Things, John McNaughton,
Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell, Bill Murray.
1980 American Gigolo, Paul Schrader,
Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton.
Obama's Green Team (?)
General James Logan Jones Jr. USMC (Retired).
When he accepted his role in the Obama administration, Gen. Jones was chairman of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, a business-backed think tank that has several Canadian oil companies as supporting members.
Among its lengthy list of proposals aimed at boosting supply and reducing U.S. energy demand, the group warns against aggressive climate change policies that would undermine energy security or impose undue costs on the economy.
TRANSITION AT THE TOP - OBAMA'S GREEN TEAM, Shawn McCarthy, January 16, 2009.
OTTAWA -- After eight years of Republican rule, environmentalists now believe they have a keen ally moving into the White House next week, and Canada's oil sands are high on their list of targets.
But they'll have to deal with General James Jones.
As a monumental battle over energy policy shapes up within the new administration of president-elect Barack Obama, Gen. Jones, a former NATO supreme commander who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, may turn out to be Canada's best ally.
After next week's historic presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., he will be the new president's national security adviser, and has sent clear signals that he considers energy security to be a key part of his mandate.
The fate of Canada's carbon-heavy oil sands projects hangs on the outcome of the fight over U.S. energy policy and climate change, which pits the "hawks," pushing for tough new standards to cut greenhouse gas emissions, against the "pragmatists," urging a go-slow approach to ensure nothing undermines the economy or energy security.
Gen. Jones, as it turns out, delivered a message to closed-door meeting of business and government elites in Banff this fall that was music to the ears of his Alberta hosts.
Energy security is a critical and growing concern for American national security, Gen. Jones said in his keynote speech to an audience that included Americans and Mexicans, as well as Canadians.
His message in Banff this fall dovetails with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's pitch to the new administration for a continental climate change agreement that reflects the need for energy security and growing oil sands production.
When he accepted his role in the Obama administration, Gen. Jones was chairman of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, a business-backed think tank that has several Canadian oil companies as supporting members.
Among its lengthy list of proposals aimed at boosting supply and reducing U.S. energy demand, the group warns against aggressive climate change policies that would undermine energy security or impose undue costs on the economy.
And it advocates that the United States look to Canada and Mexico as strategic partners in providing growing sources of crude oil as it attempts to reduce its reliance on Middle East supplies.
Soon after his inauguration, Mr. Obama will travel to Ottawa to visit with Mr. Harper, his first foreign visit as president. The Prime Minister will make similar arguments to those put forward by Gen. Jones - that Canada is a critical source of secure energy and that the two countries need to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without hamstringing either the economy or Alberta's oil industry.
But while Gen. Jones and Mr. Harper will be urging caution in Mr. Obama's right ear, the new president will be getting a very different message from environmentalists in his left.
Mr. Obama has promised aggressive action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by boosting low-carbon sources of energy, improving energy efficiency and adopting national emissions standards that could penalize high-carbon sources like oil sands projects.
He has loaded his cabinet with advocates of action, including former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Carol Browner in a new post as adviser for energy and climate change, and his energy secretary Stephen Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who has urged adoption of national emission caps.
But Gen. Jones and several economic advisers are expected to urge caution in moving ahead with costly regulations that could weaken an already fragile economy or interfere with the country's energy security agenda.
Included in that group is Lawrence Summers, Mr. Obama's top economic adviser, who clashed with Ms. Browner over environmental rules when he served as former president Bill Clinton's treasury secretary.
Gen. Jones's Institute for 21st Century Energy is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and has provided one avenue for Canadian oil companies to use to help counter the opposition in the United States to oil sands development. At the same time, Canada's Ambassador Michael Wilson and Alberta's representative Gary Mar have aggressively lobbied senior members of the U.S. Congress and senior advisers surrounding Mr. Obama.
Alberta is spending $2-billion to develop the means of sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide underground, and the federal government is expected to unveil new incentives in its upcoming budget.
At confirmation hearings this week, Ms. Browner, Mr. Chu and EPA administrator Lisa Jackson vowed to move quickly on climate legislation, in some cases granting states the right to impose their own standards.
This week, a group of Canadian and American environmental groups wrote to the president-elect and key members of his cabinet, urging them to resist Ottawa's push to grant "a pass" to the oil sands in meeting greenhouse gas emission targets.
Congress is expected to tackle climate change legislation in the first half of this year, after Mr. Obama's stimulus package and a broader energy bill, says Liz Barratt-Brown, a senior attorney at Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council, whose group was a signatory to the letter.
She expects the new president to rebuff any Canadian effort to water down emission targets to protect the oil sands.
"This is a president who instinctively gets how serious the climate change threat is," Ms. Barratt-Brown said.
Even some business groups are pressing for climate legislation that could force oil companies to spend on costly emission reductions programs, far beyond what the Alberta or federal government are requiring. Yesterday in Washington, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership issued a call for action that would include tough emission targets - including on imported oil - and low-carbon fuel standards that environmentalists insist would disadvantage the oil sands.
The USCAP includes blue-chip companies like General Electric Co. and Dow Chemical Co., and even heavy emitters like utility giant Duke Power Co. and oil major ConocoPhillips Co.
CAROL BROWNER Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. Former EPA administrator under president Bill Clinton supported U.S. signing on to Kyoto Protocol, and was active in environmental groups backing a national cap-and-trade system.
STEVEN CHU Energy Secretary. Former head of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, he directed research on renewable energy. A staunch advocate of national greenhouse gas emissions standards.
LISA JACKSON Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency. New Jersey state environmental administrator, chairwoman of the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which established a cap-and-trade system among northeastern power utilities.
JAMES L. JONES National Security Adviser. Former NATO supreme commander, Marine Corps four-star general, CEO of business-backed Institute for 21st Century Energy, which backed offshore drilling and energy trade with Canada and Mexico and opposed aggressive emission caps.
HILLARY CLINTON Secretary of State. Former first lady and senator, who supported Senate legislation for national emissions standards, but insisted foreign countries must also embrace standards. At confirmation hearing said climate change and energy security are joint challenges.
ROBERT GATES Defence Secretary, served as President George W. Bush's defence secretary. Department is world's largest consumer of fuel, and was prohibited in 2007 energy bill from buying unconventional, high-carbon fuel as secure alternative to imports. Many see it applying to oil sands.
LAWRENCE SUMMERS Director of the National Economic Council. Former Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton. Opposed the Kyoto accord, is a backer of a carbon tax, rather than the cap-and-trade system proposed by most of the Obama team.
TIMOTHY GEITHNER Treasury Secretary. Former head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (part of the U.S. central bank), participated in bailout of financial institutions last fall. Lobbied heavily by businesses who say new carbon emission caps would hurt weakened economy.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Business As Usual
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Adobe Flash, is finally dying after 19 years. In the last week it received one of its final blows: Google officially killed Flash advertising in its browser.
From the 1st of September, any advertising still using the Flash technology requires the user to click it to play. The good part for advertisers is that Google AdWords now makes it possible to automatically convert Flash adv into our loved HTML5.
New browsers now render HTML5 very well and with the slow death of Flash, HTML5 games will have more and more visibility.
The much hated Flash has been plagued by problems over the years, in particular the latest security issues were the main reason of its death.
HTML5 gaming market is growing fast and we are here to surf it!
Are you a gaming website or publisher looking for a catalogue of HTML5 games to add to your website? Contact us!
Are you a game developer looking for tons of users and some real revenues? You should contacts us too! :)


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Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo were sent down to Pawtucket following an announcement this week. This clearly means that Mookie Betts will be starting in Center Field, Shane Victorino in Right Field and Hanley Ramirez in Left. It also means that Daniel Nava and Allen Craig will be filling in. I personally was very happy to see Mookie Betts make the starting outfield. The 22 year old had an impressive stat line during Spring Training; he has hit .458, in nearly 50 at bats and has hit eight doubles. He has the speed and athleticism to easily man center field defensively. At first I was a bit disappointed to see Castillo being sent down as I felt he easily could have handled right field at Fenway. In 30 at bats he hit .310 with 2 home runs and showed the potential as to why we dished out $72.5 Million in order to get him. Even though I feel that down the road this season he will become the starter in right field I understand and agree with the decision to have Shane Victorino starting. His stats certainly do not help his case as he has had nagging injuries during spring training and has hit an abysmal .171. He also played in only thirty games last season so it is clear his durability is a question mark heading into this season.
However he has done a lot in his career. He has won four Gold Gloves and played a significant role on two World Series teams in Philadelphia in 2008 and Boston in 2013. He was the starting Center Fielder and Right Fielder respectively for both teams during those seasons. John Farrell made the right move by putting a guy with Championship pedigree as the starter. The man certainly knows how to win, but it is clear to me that he is dwindling and his body is wearing down. That is why I do not see this being an issue. I envision ultimately Farrell probably knows that "The Flyin' Hawaiian" will get injured early on in the season or his body will wear down and he will hit poorly enough for Farrell to be justified in calling up Castillo to replace him. Ultimately I don't see Victorino lasting as the starting right fielder beyond mid May to June. Once that happens, he will be put into a more limited role, likely similar to what Mike Carp did for the Sox back in 2013. Victorino can still play there is no doubt about it and I truly feel like he could come up with some big hits in that limited backup outfield role as Carp did that year. At the end of the day Farrell made the right decision by giving the veteran the starting gig, but we all know who the starter will be by the end of the season. This team has a lot of pressure to win and they are not going to handicap themselves for long letting a struggling Vicotrino be the starting right fielder.
Go Sox!
By Spencer Roush @El_Spence_Man
4/5/2015 09:34:13 am
good observations spencer, i think the "flying Hawaiian" can provide us with a solid stat line of the bench, once castillo is called up. I really enjoy reading your pieces and hope you keep them coming.
Harry Alpaugh
4/5/2015 01:49:34 pm
Bruh I concur
4/6/2015 05:06:23 am
nicely done!
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AA Road Atlas Great Britain and Ireland 9780749578633Code: LH57392Pack size: PK10AA Road Atlas Great Britain/Ireland 2013. Britain^s clearest mapping with a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch. With locations of speed cameras and limits as well as over 220 service areas and 300 caravan and camping sites. 76 pages, 38.5cm x 28.4cm x 0.3cm.
Map Marketing British Isles Motoring Laminated Map BIMCode: MM90401Pack size: EachBritish Isles Motoring Map. Motorways, primary and A and B roads depicted with insets showing Greater London main routes and a mileage chart. Size: 50x35. Scale - 12.5 miles: 1 inch.
Map Marketing Political Map of the World (Pack of 1) BEXCode: MM30001Pack size: EachBartholomew Executive World Map. Laminated map that shows countries clearly defined with political colouring. Main cities and towns are clearly marked along with time-zone clocks. Size 37x59. Scale 458 miles: 1 inch.
Map Marketing UK Counties, Districts & Unitary Authorities Map (pack of 1) BICCode: MM90101Pack size: EachUK Planning Map. Laminated map showing each county in a different tint, with the unitary authorities clearly marked. A large scale inset shows Greater London boroughs. Size 50x35. Scale 12.5 miles: 1 inch.
Map Marketing Giant World Political Laminated Map GWLDCode: MM05271Pack size: EachGiant world political map featuring countries clearly defined with political colouring. Main cities and towns clearly marked. Time zone clocks, country flags and statistics. Size 830 x 1200mm. Scale 1: 34,000,000 (520 miles: 1 inch). Laminated.
Map Marketing A-Z Postcode Map of Greater London (pack of 1) GLPCCode: MM01831Pack size: EachMap Marketing A-Z Postcode Map of Greater London. Laminated roll-up map detailing all postal zones in the Greater London area - roads are less prominent to ensure that the postcode information takes precedence.
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11th National Kenu & Kundu Festival 2016
04 – 06 November 2016
The 11th National Kenu and Kundu festival is set for the 04th – 06th November 2016, in Alotau, Milne Bay Province.
The Kenu and Kundu Festival has been hosted for more than 10 years and comprises of the most spectacular canoe cultural event in Papua New Guinea with well over 1,500 participants and 110 canoes, with 20,000 approximate spectators per day.
This festival celebrates the traditional sailing canoes and Kundu drums that are a vital part of life in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The canoes used in this festival are crafted in the same way as the ancestors of the Milne Bay people built many years ago. The colors and patterns represent the tribe and the area the canoe comes from.
Traditional dancing groups will gather from all across the Milne Bay province creating a rich diversity of performances.
The event features dance shows, lifestyle demonstrations, live music and more and is a must for visitors.
So don't miss this exciting festival!


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The Gretsch G2655 Streamliner is our pick for the best hollow body guitar, which has a red finish, 22 inlays, a spruce center block and is made with a maple body.
Our step-up pick is the Ibanez AFJ91 Artcore and it has knobs for tone and volume control. It is made with gold hardware, has block inlays and has 20 frets.
The budget pick is the Epiphone WILDKAT and it is made with a rosewood fretboard as well as classic pickups (P-90) with a mahogany body.
- 1 A Little Background
- 2 How we Picked
- 3 Our Pick
- 4 Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
- 5 Step-up Pick
- 6 Budget Pick
- 7 Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Tune-O-Matic Bridge
- 8 Best Hollow Body Guitar with a C-shaped Neck
- 9 Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Mahogany Neck
- 10 Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Maple Top
- 11 Best Hollow Body Guitar with Nickel Plated Hardware
- 12 Best Hollow Body Guitar with Coil Tapping
- 13 Best Hollow Body Guitar for Vintage Sounds
- 14 The Competition
- 15 Other Frequently Asked Questions
- 16 Wrapping It Up
A Little Background
The hollow body guitar is a kind of guitar that is meant for added resonance. They come in semi hollow and archtop types of guitars. Semi hollow ones have an f-hole on them while archtop types have a different design. The point is that they are both unique and mostly made for jazz and blues, as well as some classical music.
Not using your guitar for a long time can be just as dangerous as if you overused it, much like a vehicle when stuck in a garage for the rest of the winter season. Make sure that you use it a little bit, so as not to make it worse when it comes down to storage and durability. Storing one should be done carefully as well, so that it will not rot away into your basement.
Guitar gear can be bought anywhere, as long as you have the right knowledge and budget. From amps, to cables to straps to anything – most malls will have a music shop in one way or another. This is because music is a very vital thing to all cultures, so you should be able to find one in your locality, regardless of where you live.
How we Picked
When you want to choose the best hollow body guitar, you need to consider the following:
Materials used (body): It is not just about the strings, but also how the body and sides were built. Common wood species or materials can be basswood, ash, alder and swamp ash. Some other body materials include spruce, graphite, plastic ad cherry.
Fretboard: Having a sturdy and reliable fretboard is important so that you won't accidentally break it when the going gets tough. Examples of fretboard material include rosewood, maple, ebony and Indian rosewood.
Neck: the neck part can be made of nato wood, maple, mahogany, hard maple, basswood or alder.
Frets: Lower numbers of frets can be hard for expert players who are looking for something to play higher notes with.
Optimum genres: Genres for your instrument can include pop, rock, jazz, blues, folk, indie, ballad, country and many more.
Hand orientation: This can be decided in the way the sides are constructed, especially the curves and the like. You can either choose from left-handed or right-handed ones.
String type: If your guitar is quite expensive then it may be great to invest in a higher quality plucking device.
Number of strings: This can vary from 4 strings to 5 and up to the standard 6 strings. Some can even go for up to 12 strings if you want a high quality one.
Our Pick
As our top pick, the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner is made with a laminated top wood while maintaining a u-neck wood that is made of nato wood. There are 22 inlays for the frets and there is also a truss rod. If you want to have the great Gretsch sound then this is the one to pick. It is also good even with high gain and it has a humbucking pickup system.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
While not a deal breaker, the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner may not be that good for overdrive sounds, but that is the forte of solid body guitars, anyway.
Step-up Pick
The Ibanez AFJ91 Artcore is our step-up pick, which is made with gold hardware for better sound quality and connections. It is made with 20 frets and a mahogany and maple neck. The ART-W bridge gives it superior control while the volume and tone controls give your instrument a much more customized mix. Its bridge is also adjustable and it has a tapered neck as well.
Budget Pick
The Epiphone WILDKAT is our budget pick, which is made with rosewood on its fretboard and flamed maple for the top part. The body is made with sturdy mahogany. It has a scale of 24.75 inches and it is made with classic pickups with a P90 dogear design. It also comes with a B70 vibrato so you can make your sounds more unique. It also has a D-profile neck.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Tune-O-Matic Bridge
The Oscar Schmidt OE30 is a great hollow style design with a tune-o-matic bridge. It has controls for volume, tone and a 3-way switch. There is a stop tailpiece that is not found on other types of instruments out there. There are 2 tone and volume knobs present so you can control your sound more precisely. There are also 2 humbucker pickups that can enhance your music.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with a C-shaped Neck
The Epiphone ETOLHBNH1 has a honey burst finish, has a scale of 25.5 inches and has a rounded profile or C-shaped design for the neck. The rosewood fingerboard makes it durable. It has a piezoelectric configuration for the pickup and it has an adjustable bridge system. The body is made with quality mahogany that can last a long time.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Mahogany Neck
The Ibanez Artcore AS73 is a good choice for when you want something with a mahogany neck. It has a fretboard made of rosewood and it has a total of 22 frets. Its body is made out of maple with a double cutaway design. The ART1 bridge system also makes it durable for the strings. The mahogany neck is made with an artcore set. The pickup configuration is an ACH plus and its bridge is adjustable as well.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with a Maple Top
The Dean COLT CBK has a maple top and body and is made with chrome hardware. The fingerboard is made of rosewood and it has a set neck for durability as well. It has a total of 22 frets with pearl dot inlays and it is made with chrome finish for the hardware. The pickup on the neck and bridge are made with DMT design chrome, plus a gloss finish for the body.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with Nickel Plated Hardware
The Epiphone ES-339 has a d-shaped neck, has nickel plated hardware and has a push pull coil tapping system. It has a cherry red finish and it has a D-shaped profile for its neck for ease of control. The single coil tone makes it great for standard genres. It has 22 medium jumbo frets and has a push and pull coil system. It also has an output jack for headphone use.
Best Hollow Body Guitar with Coil Tapping
Also made with coil tapping, the Epiphone SHERATON-II PRO has a vintage design and it is made with a fingerboard made of rosewood. It also has good volume knobs on the bridge. It has medium jumbo frets and has volume knobs for ease of control. Its bridge is made with tune-o-matic design and it also has a tailpiece made with a stop bar. If you want something with a 60s design then this is a good choice.
Best Hollow Body Guitar for Vintage Sounds
The Danelectro D59MOD-BLK is good with vintage sounds and it also has a rosewood saddle bridge. The lipstick pickups make it unique and the side edge tape has a good texture. It has 3 individual tuners. It also has a seal pickguard to protect your instrument body and it also has an original headstock with a bottle design but slightly modified from the original (this is based from a '59 model).
The Competition
Other guitars did not make it to our list because they lacked in materials for durability and were also not very good in their string construction, as well as the f-holes.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there pros and cons of a f-hole design stringed musical instrument?
A: The hollow body design stringed musical instrument, also known as the f-hole stringed musical instrument, does have its share of pros and cons, such as the following:
|Pros of a F-hole design Stringed musical instrument
|Clean sounds
|The f-hole design stringed musical instrument is able to make clean sounds that will help captivate your audience even better, resulting in a cleaner mix.
|Physically attractive
|There is nothing more aesthetically looking than the design of a f-hole design stringed musical instrument due to the similarities with a double bass or a violin.
|Great for jazz
|One great thing to know about with f-hole design stringed musical instruments is the fact that it can be used for jazz, blues and similar forms of music.
|Cons of a F-hole design Stringed musical instrument
|Not good with too much gain
|Like with most stringed musical instruments, gain kills the tone and it doesn't give you a lot of emphasis.
|Feedback problems
|It does have feedback problems, but some can remedy this using a noise gate suppressor.
Q: What's the difference between the semi-hollow and the f-hole design?
A: Both of these types of stringed musical instruments do have differences, such as the following:
High frequency: the hollow stringed musical instrument has more mellow highs than the semi-hollow.
Attack: compared to the semi-hollow, the full hollow stringed musical instrument has seriously softer attacks.
Genres: hollow ones are more used in jazz compared to semi-hollow ones.
Q: What are the different parts of the stringed musical instrument?
A: This depends on the type of stringed musical instrument you have, but here are the general parts:
- Head – this is the part of the stringed musical instrument that houses the headstock, tuning keys and nut.
|This is the part of the stringed musical instrument where the tuning keys are located.
|Tuning keys
|They are also called tuning pegs and are the ones you need to use when it comes down to tuning a stringed musical instrument.
|They are the dividing elements between the neck and the head part of the stringed musical instrument, and where your strings cross over to the other side.
- Neck – this is the part of the stringed musical instrument that has the fretboard, frets and position markers.
|The frets are the parts of your stringed musical instrument neck in which you put your fingers over to create a chord or two.
|Fretboard or fingerboard
|This is the main board in which frets are located so that you can be able to press on them. They are an essential when it comes down to playing your stringed musical instrument.
|Position markers
|These will let you know which chord you are playing or trying to strum on.
- Body – this is the part of the stringed musical instrument that has the pick guard and the bridge.
|Pick guard
|These are present so that when you use the pick, your stringed musical instrument body will be protected from scratches and ruining the cosmetic finish.
|The bridge serves as the endpoint of the strings so that your strings will not go anywhere.
|Strap pins
|The strap pins are found in both acoustic and electric stringed musical instruments, more commonly on electric ones, so you can hang your stringed musical instrument with a strap when performing live while standing up.
- Acoustic exclusive parts – these are the parts that are only found on the acoustic stringed musical instrument:
|Sound hole
|The sound hole acts as the pickup of sorts for your acoustic stringed musical instrument because of the resonance effect that is the whole acoustic stringed musical instrument itself.
|The saddle is the part that takes the bridge.
- Electric exclusive parts – these are the parts that are only found on the electric stringed musical instrument:
|They are the ones that pick up the vibrations of your strings and then convert them into electronic signals to your pre-amp and amp.
|Pickup selector switch
|These allow you to switch between your single coil pickup and humbucker pickup.
|Tone and volume controls
|These can adjust the loudness or volume, as well as the tone of the notes and strings.
|Output jack
|This can allow you to practice even with a headphone on.
Q: What am I doing wrong with stringed musical instruments?
A: If you have been playing stringed musical instruments but keep making mistakes, here's what you are probably doing wrong?
- Wrong tempo – Tempo and timing, when gone wrong, can completely turn off your audience and make the musicians frown at your performance. Even if you do get that vibrato solo right, it's not really a clean performance without proper tempo.
- Fretboard problems – Rather than the placements and positions on the fretboard, you should focus on the key in mind, just as how you'd know each letter of the keyboard when typing on it, even without looking. Muscle memory takes years of practice, but you'll get the hang of it.
- Worrying about mistakes – Let's face it – everybody makes mistakes in one way or another. In fact, your audience won't really care if you played off-tune. Sure, some pros at the back may have something to say, but don't let it go to your head – stay cool, because even pros make them sometimes.
- Looking instead of listening – Some musical techniques like the vibrato are all about listening rather than looking at a player's hands.
- Stopping on a scale – When you learn a scale, you don't have to stop on that certain scale! Learn the different associated scales and you'll have a map across the fretboard in no time.
Q: What classical stringed musical instrument mistakes are common to players?
A: Learning the classical stringed musical instrument can be quite a tedious task, and here are some common mistakes that players potentially do:
|This can be solved by floating, so that you don't end up causing tension with your ring or pinky fingers.
|Poor alignment
|You should sit upright with a good sitting position so your fingers and back don't hurt.
|This is when you put too much tension due to accidentally hooking the strings and snagging.
|Splayed fingers
|These can be caused by too much distance between your fingers when you play.
|This is the habit of lifting your hand when plucking, which might make you miss a note.
Q: What are the ways I can possibly have a better career in the music world?
A: So you want to be famous? Well, being in the limelight as a band or a solo artist isn't something magical like a unicorn. Here are ways you can potentially get noticed:
- Talk to different people in your locality and on the internet. If you make friends with other bands, you're sure to get some attention in one way or another.
- Travel and tour around your locality. You can go to places and neighboring towns and cities as well, so that other communities might also hear your story.
- Don't ignore sudden ideas – put them to action. Don't let that idea go – write it in your phone's notes or on a piece of paper because ideas like that will fade away if you don't give attention to it. The same thing is true for when you're in the bathroom. Your ambition should be concrete, it should not be something that is unrealistic.
- Reinvent an existing genre or movement. Don't stick to one genre! Instead of being in the cesspool of cliché acts, be a unique something.
- Know who might be your fans. Who will you write a song to? Is it those animal and human rights advocates? To those who've been ripped off by politicians? Your lyrics are part of your marketing strategy.
- Upload your stuff online. Examples of free sites you can promote your music on are Bandcamp and Soundcloud. And of course, there's our good old YouTube. If you don't post them online and join communities, how will your music be heard?
- Give free stuff from time to time. Just because you posted something on YouTube for a free download doesn't mean you are letting people rip you off. It's about sharing and caring for your audience.
- Keep a good band image. However, keep in mind that you should work hard first to get noticed by companies and get more fans before you actually hire a professional PR guy or girl. PR is something that can be fueled by common sense, much like SEO.
- Record and watch your rehearsals. In this way, you are being your own critic so that the next time you hop onto the stage, you'll know what to do.
- Name your band uniquely, according to your interests. Is it Riverdale? Is it NBA or the NFL? Or perhaps it's about apocalyptic predictions? Is it about veganism? About diet crazes? You name it – people are surely going to be interested in something unique.
- Keep practicing and be patient. Success doesn't happen overnight – many artists have tried years and years of practice. Even Freddie Mercury and the rest of Queen took millenniums of rehearsals before they became legends.
- Know that there will be a place for you eventually. It might not be on TV singing with rock legends who are still alive today. It might not be in a big concert dome. But eventually, you will find your own style and there will be a place for you somewhere, even when not totally in the mainstream scene.
- Make success happen by working hard. Being an artist isn't just about talent – it's about putting that talent to good use and to maximize everything that you have as an artist. Don't just practice – practice hard. Give it your all with every performance but be sure to consider technique as well.
Q: What are some common myths with stringed musical instruments?
A: Most people think this and that when it comes down to playing and maintaining stringed musical instruments. However, there are some things that aren't true, such as the following:
|Learning the stringed musical instrument is easy as 123.
|It is definitely not easy, since you will be up against harsh strings and complicated hand placements on chords.
|You can't play the stringed musical instrument if you have short fingers and hands.
|Nobody set rules for whether you have short or long fingers – even those with short fingers can play any instrument, both stringed musical instruments and pianos. It is all in the technique and execution of things.
|You can easily learn it online.
|There are many online resources, but some techniques are best learned offline from friends and music experts.
|You need to have natural musical talent in order to learn stringed musical instrument.
|No, stringed musical instrument talent can be learned for years. Even those with musical blood in them can't play the stringed musical instrument properly if they don't have a lot of technique, practice and training.
Q: What challenges do bands and musicians face and what can I do to solve it?
A: Challenges can make musicians and bands stronger. Here are some things that you, as a musician or even just as a band player, can do to overcome these challenges:
Diss the haters creatively. Why not blow them off with a song? Most of the best written songs are based from how they've risen above the haters. Either they're that senior executive from that music shop downtown, or some random dude who have absolutely no background in music. True musicians won't "hate" your music – they'll just leave some feedback and constructive criticism.
Don't worry about a small audience. Perhaps the weather is bad, perhaps people are out of cash or perhaps you booked your event in the same date as some other event, so the audiences were halved.
It's okay to cancel your shows for emergency reasons. Think about how the remaining members of The Beatles dealt with John Lennon's loss back then. People need to cancel shows for different reasons – we're all humans and we deal with pain. Just explain to your fans why you have to cancel shows, and we're sure that they will understand it well.
Avoid getting ripped off by capitalists. Due to these rip-off and corrupt people, some people eventually quit bands. These corrupt people are those who don't understand that it takes blood, sweat and tears to make music, let alone play an instrument such as the stringed musical instrument. Learn that not every promoter is like that – it's about searching for a better and more trustworthy person.
Gear getting stolen or wrecked happens to people. Stringed musical instruments and amps can be worth a fortune, and this is why people may be bent on breaking in your house or apartment. Worse, your unit or home could be engulfed in place in an unavoidable scenario and you end up losing your $1,000 stringed musical instrument and other gear.
Musicians can get broke. We've all been there. Music is a gift, but not everyone is born rich. Stringed musical instruments can cost a fortune, and so can amps. Unfortunately, your job doesn't give you enough yet you still want to pursue your dreams of being on TV as a musician, or at least tour around your locality. Try balancing your job first and then earning some more to continue with your music.
Q: What common problems do professional musicians face in terms of business?
A: If you've already made it somehow in the music business as a regularly releasing band, here are the different problems you can face:
|Demo disappointment
|With no signs of the recording companies ever contacting you with those demos, you're left in worry. But don't fret, you might have just submitted the wrong demo for the wrong company, or you can come up with something better soon.
|Review getting dropped
|You were told that you will be reviewed and interviewed in a news article, but it never happened and you were replaced by somebody else. Clearly, this is one of the most frustrating things, ever. Don't let it discourage you – there are still many opportunities to come.
|Little to no crowd / cancelled gig
|What's worse than an empty venue? A cancelled gig, of course. It can be due to various things, like a bad weather or a conflict of schedules. Next time, plan your gig ahead of time and consider the variables.
|Getting broke
|Being a regular musician can also mean something on your wallet. In times when you are financially broke, you should also invest in other things first, like a small business. Don't expect music to be your primary source of bread and butter, because people don't need to buy music often as they need to buy food.
|Royalty collection
|Regularly releasing bands may have problems in royalty collection, and things can get out of hand. Proper communication is the key.
|Copyright issues
|Again, with the right communication, you can deal with copyright issues as well.
|Sometimes, when lawsuits are filed, you need a trustworthy attorney to do the job.
Q: Are there pros and cons of DIY releasing a band album?
A: Most bands decide not to get a label to distribute their album and do something on their own. Here are the pros and cons to a DIY band album release:
|Pros of a DIY released album
|You own the rights
|It's all you (or your band) – no (insert company name here) copyright stuff. All the copyright is yours and yours to keep. Those things are often harmful to content creators on YouTube who can't use your song for entertainment purposes because copyright issues are being a jerk.
|Earnings are yours to keep
|Because the money comes from your own pocket, earnings don't have cut on taxes and employees and whatnot. It's yours to keep!
|No pressure on release dates
|You don't have to get stressed on finishing your entire EP or album within 1 week!
|You decide on your musical direction
|Some companies like to change your image, and it's unhealthy for musicians because it kills their creativity for profit purposes.
|Nobody nagging or holding your neck
|Ever heard of the word "freelance job"? That's exactly the biggest benefit of being a DIY artist – no executive holding you on the neck.
|Cons of a DIY released album
|You need a fair amount of fund source
|DIY anything is always costly, because you need to provide funds for physical CDs and whatnot. Unless you can also do the artwork yourself, it can also cost some bucks to hire a graphic designer for the album.
|Lack of contacts and promotion
|Being a DIY artist is no joke – you have little exposure and it gets hard to promote. But hey, that's only for the beginning. Once you've been heard, you'll get exposure, eventually.
|It can be time consuming
|Yes, promoting by yourself or with your bandmates is much more taxing than having an agency do it for you, but some people actually find this a pro rather than a con, because that's the fun of being a musician – getting in personal touch with your audience.
|You might face other challenges
|Things like lack of CD materials, problems with renting a studio, conflicting schedules with recording, and other problems can arise. These can be resolved with proper planning.
Q: On the other hand, what are the pros and cons of getting into a label?
A: While some people like being self-made musicians, some want to depend on a label. Here are the pros and cons:
|Pros of a label or recording company
|Great promotion
|Music companies will do the promotion for you, and you'll reach a wider audience.
|More opportunity to earn from music
|Because you'll get more spotlight, you'll also likely get more sponsors for your music.
|You get famous fast
|Nothing beats the lightning speed of fame while in a label or recording company.
|Cons of a label or recording company
|Labels will fire you if you're not selling well
|It happens: you join a label and you're still not selling well. The worst case scenario – they'll kick you out.
|Most will rip you off
|Worse than not selling well, some will eventually just rip your aspirations and budget to shreds, just like the stringed musical instrument you're shredding.
|Employees come and go
|For instance, the person who once discovered your music and signed you to the company may have resigned the next day, and you're now left with total strangers who may not like your music at all.
|Executives aren't always musicians
|Some just put up a music company for, ahem, profit. The solution is to find a label with executives who are probably retired musicians rather than big, fat guys who only care about the $$$ and not your originality.
|You just can't be "yourself"
|It's hard when someone is holding your neck and controlling which should be released or not. While this is okay if you want to make "business" out of your music or a "living" out of it, for those whose music is for "art's sake", this might not be comfortable.
Q: What are some good reasons to politely ask someone to leave your band?
A: Being in a band is a tough job because there needs to be some sort of teamwork and unity. If one person is not being helpful then the best decision you can make is to take that person out of the group. Here are reasons and signs that you might have to say goodbye to one band member and replace him or her with a better one:
- They've got that "attitude". Nope, we're not talking in terms of "badass attitude", we're talking about a guy who is just plain rude. Said person might pick fights with bands easily, constantly bicker at other bands' skills, and are just mainly concerned with fame and money. If this person exists in your band, it may be unhealthy for your group.
- They don't have time for practice and gigs. If this person always shows up late or don't show up at all during rehearsals and gigs, then that means they lack commitment for your music, and are more likely to do the same with other areas of their work or field as well. If you really love something then you'll do everything to be punctual and present for it.
- The band you're in is just a side project of this person. They are likely going to be absent in the event of a big tour, and this is why you should ask them as to which band they are best committed to, and will they have time for your band after all. Being in a band takes dedication, and you can't just bring someone from another band because that divides the attention.
- Their style and skill is different from yours. Part of what makes a band successful is a similar taste in music and skills. If you're a metal band but this dude keeps on ranting about reggae music then they should join a reggae group instead. In the same way, if you think their skills aren't cut out for the rest of the band, they may want to join a different group instead.
- It's just hard to deal with them in general. Bands are all about bonding, teamwork and moral support, as well as respect. If you can't really be friends outside of music then there's less of a chance of collaborating with them in a band. If most of the members just can't stand this person because of so many reasons, then it may be best to get him or her out of the band.
After you've decided to vote out a band member, here's what you need to remember:
- Check your contract and record deals, if present. If the said problem is the person who actually started the band (e.g. your vocalist and founder is just too full of himself and inconsiderate to his band members) then you might as well disband. Check for anything written in your contracts and consult a lawyer before officially firing a band member or disbanding to avoid copyright lawsuits.
- Talk to the person politely. There's no point in keeping it to them for too long – say what you want to say, but be polite and honest. Gather all the group members and give all of the explanations that you want to give to the person. Let them know that what you are doing is for the best.
- Tie up all the loose ends. Manage any debts that you haven't settled or arguments that you haven't discussed thoroughly, including how your drummer stole your ex-girlfriend from you. End any contracts that are existing, and cancel tours if you want to disband. By tying up all the loose ends, you're ending one chapter to the book, and beginning another one.
Q: What are the pros and cons of using real amps versus VST amps?
A: VSTs or virtual studio technology plug-ins are types of software that can be associated with your digital audio workstation or DAW such as Ableton, FL Studio, Cubase and the like. They can emulate a stringed musical instrument rig (there's actually a VST named "Stringed musical instrument Rig") so you don't have to spend too much for a real amp, whether it is a solid state amp or a tube amp. Here are the pros and cons:
|Pros of VST amps
|No space needed
|VSTs only take space in your computer, not in your bedroom!
|Economical and cheap (sometimes free)
|Some VSTs are free while others only cost less than $10!
|Provides a similar quality sound
|While they only emulate sounds of your tube amp, they are actually pretty good at doing it.
|Cons of VST amps
|Quality depends on your computer's latency
|If your computer's quality for latency isn't that good, there can be delays in quality.
|Some are just purists
|Some folks are just tube purists – deal with it.
|Pros of real amps
|Exercises your studio mixing skills
|Most purists will say that there's nothing like arranging microphones on a real home studio.
|Ability to play live
|It can be unsightly for some people to bring a laptop instead of using the amp on stage.
|Cons of real amps
|Amps will cost a lot compared to VSTs.
|Lots of space needed
|If your home or apartment is hamster sized then amps might not be for you.
Q: How do you make sure that your band is ready for its first concert or gig?
A: If your band is still fresh and haven't experienced its first concert or gig yet, here are things you need to prepare:
- Talk to the promoter and venue people.
- Get lots and lots of practice.
- Get smart opinions from people who care.
- Promote your stuff on social media.
- Get to know the other bands or acts in the gig or concert.
Q: How do you exercise stage etiquette while playing stringed musical instrument?
A: When you are playing stringed musical instrument on stage, you need to be careful physically and verbally, and you should avoid these mistakes:
- Avoid standing on the stool where you might easily fall.
- Don't carry a stringed musical instrument that is too bulky and dangerous if you intend to run around.
- If you can, go cordless – this can save you from accidents like tripping on wires.
- Don't let anyone sit or stand on the amp(s).
- In the same way, don't let anyone sit or stand on the monitors (speakers).
- Be careful with fast picking, as you can potentially lose that pick.
- Thank the sponsors and the event venue.
- Stay for other acts that might come later in the show.
- Keep your cool and respect others.
- Be responsible with your gear, and of other people's gear.
Q: What are the pros and cons of digital released albums?
A: Today is the digital age, and people are probably skipping on your DIY CD releases. Not much people will be found purchasing physical copies, because you can just stream your favorite band's music on Spotify, iTunes and other sites and services. Here are the pros and cons to a digital release:
|1. It's cheaper than a physical release.
2. Digital releases are cheaper for fans to buy.
3. Percentages are a lot better when it comes down to digital releases.
4. You can do it at point and click speed, reducing the likelihood of a delayed album release.
|1. Promoting your album is always the biggest challenge.
2. There are so many people already releasing music online, and it's hard to get through.
3. You're on your own with less helpers to market your music.
Q: What are the basics of stringed musical instrument shop etiquette?
A: A stringed musical instrument shop can either be a good or unpleasant experience for musicians. To avoid being "that guy" in the stringed musical instrument shop, here are some important etiquette you should follow:
- Don't be in a hurry to test your new stringed musical instrument.
- Go for the right time in testing the instrument.
- Don't spend a lot of time in just one instrument.
- Don't use the shop as a concert venue.
- Don't turn up the amp too loudly.
Q: How do you make sure you clean your stringed musical instruments properly?
A: You can clean up your stringed musical instruments and maintain them if needed, so that you can expect years of more usage for them. Here are the different ways to do so:
- Change your strings as needed.
- Wipe your fretboard from dirt and grime.
- Add polish for your stringed musical instrument body and neck.
Q: How are blues and jazz different from each other?
A: Two genres, blues and jazz, look and sound pretty similar, but are different in various aspects, such as the following:
|Africa, Europe and various traditional music.
|African-American music and spiritual music
|Has a swaying and smooth motion and in some ways, can also have a fast tempo with abstraction.
|Usually slower than jazz, has a melancholic tone.
|Usually characterized by syncopated melodies and chords.
|Usually characterized by emotive lyrics and certain patterns of chords.
|Associated genres
|Fusion, swing, soul, funk, calypso
|Bluegrass, R&B, rock, rock and roll
|Notable artists
|Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis
|Eric Clapton, B.B. King, John lee Hooker, Gus Cannon, T-Bone Walker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Rev. Gary Davis
Q: When should you teach your child stringed musical instrument?
A: Children can learn the stringed musical instrument more efficiently if they are at least 10 years old, or able to comprehend with the physical stresses in handling the strings and the like. Any age will do, but the best way to go is for when there is a sense of maturity and development in your child.
Wrapping It Up
As a whole, we think that the Gretsch G2655 Streamliner is our pick for the best hollow body guitar due to the beautiful red finish, 22 frets, maple construction for the body and a spruce center block.


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If you own an iPhone, you are probably well aware of its mobile mantra, "There's an app for that." But did anyone ever expect that as useful as the iPhone can be, even the military or more specifically their contractors would get involved in developing applications to help those in the armed forces? Well they are.
Defense contractor Raytheon is reportedly creating a series of apps for the iPhone to help soldiers during military operations. One such app is called One Force Tracker and it uses GPS and cellular networks to provide real time tactical information along with updating maps of enemy combatants as well as friendly troops.
The idea behind building these kinds of military apps for the iPhone was something of a economic decision according to Raytheon. Jay Smart, CTO for Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems Business comments:
because building software for the [iPhone] was cheaper and simpler than some of the expensive options specifically designed for military use.
As exciting as the iPhone being used in combat sounds, I wouldn't expect the One Force Tracker app to be available to the civilian sector. However, lessons learned from the development of the app could eventually find their way to the public sector to help aid others when situations require real time information gathering.


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Black Bat Costume Photo 4 of 9
Rate this costume:
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not bad for a 7 yr old
|Costume type:
|Costumes for Boys
This homemade costume for boys entered our 2013 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Kenneth, the 'Black Bat' costume creator:
After fearing daddy's Bat for several years it must have rubbed off on him, lol. Buddy boy at age 7 allowed dad to paint and glue prosthetics to his face and head. We went to... Read more »


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At BeautyWorx we offer a wide range of beauty treatments using different products to suit your skin type and needs. We are skin care specialists that tailor treatments to your needs. We also sell a range of products for home use or wrapped up packages that make ideal gifts.
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Polyurethanes are produced by the reaction of a polyisocyanate with a polyalcohol (polyol) in the presence of a catalyst and other additives. Isocyanates can be classed as aromatic or aliphatic. Depending upon the type of isocyanate used in the reaction, there can be either aromatic polyurethanes or aliphatic polyurethanes.
Polyaspartic is an aliphatic Polyurea. So what is Polyurea?
Polyureas are produced by the reaction of a polyisocyanate with an amine terminated polyester resin. The result of the reaction between aliphatic polyisocyanate with a diamine is called Polyaspartic Polyurea or in shot Polyaspartic.
The terminology sounds verbose and pedagogic but it is very important to understand these terms for anyone who is in the coatings industry so that they can speak knowledgeably with their clients.
Polyaspartic sealers are different in both application and performance properties from Polyurea. Polyaspartics are similar in application and performance characteristics to aliphatic Polyurethane sealers.
Difference between Polyaspartic and Polyurethane Sealers/Coatings
It is also important to understand the difference between Polyaspartic and Polyurethane sealers / coatings because one can be substitute for the other.
Why would you want to do that?
Polyurethane sealers are less expensive than Polyaspartic and they perform (abrasion, chemical and UV resistance) similarly after they have been fully cured. Therefore if the project conditions allow one can be substituted for the other.
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text: Share SHARE PRINT Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc Interim Management Statement 07 November 2017 Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc ('JLT' or 'the Group'), one of the world's leading providers of insurance, reinsurance, and employee benefits related advice, brokerage, and associated services, releases its Interim Management Statement for the period from 1st July 2017 through 6th November 2017. Trading Environment and Performance Risk & Insurance The Group remains pleased with trading in the risk and insurance businesses, despite the ongoing challenges and uncertainties in the economic, market, and political environments. JLT Specialty Europe reported a mixed revenue performance in the period, with good results achieved in construction, financial lines, and credit and political risks, but a weaker performance in energy and marine, reflecting the continued difficult industry conditions in these sectors. Cost management however, more than offset the challenging trading environment. JLT Re continued to build on the momentum shown in the first half of 2017. In International Specialty, Latin America performed well through the period while Australia started to realize the benefit of client wins announced at the interim results in July. US Specialty continued to grow revenue, bolstered by a strong performance of the Construction Risk Partners business acquired in January. The Group continues to anticipate that the full year net investment losses in US Specialty will reduce year on year, as the business heads towards profits in 2019, as guided previously. Employee Benefits UK Employee Benefits revenue continued to grow, recording some important client wins, as the benefits of the actions taken in 2015 and 2016 are fully realized. The performance of the Asia EB business stabilised in the period, and an encouraging client pipeline indicates the underlying strengths of this business. The other international EB businesses delivered good revenue growth in their respective markets. Other The Group acquired Belgibo NV in August, strengthening our specialty capabilities in areas such as marine and trade credit. It also provides the Group with a larger continental European presence, helping to ensure that our clients in the EU and EEA continue to benefit from access to the unique capabilities of the London market after the United Kingdom has left the EU. Head office expenses grew modestly, as previously guided, as a consequence of provisions in the Group's captive, and increases in premises and staff costs. Outlook The Group continues to believe that it will deliver full year organic revenue growth more in line with historical rates. The Group anticipates this growth, combined with strong cost management, will enable sustained year on year financial progress. Due to the timing of insurance and reinsurance renewals, the Group does not expect the recent series of natural disasters around the world to have an impact on its 2017 full year outturn. With respect to the 2018 period, the initial marketplace response to these events has been inconsistent and it is premature to draw conclusions as to the effect these may have on the insurance rating environment. - ENDS - Enquiries: Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc Charlie Rozes, Group Finance Director (0)207-558-3929 Paul Dransfield, Investor Relations (0)207-528-4933 Brunswick Group Tom Burns / Dania Saidam (0)207-404-5959 Forward-Looking Statements This announcement may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding the financial position, business strategy or plans for future operations of the Group. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, relating to facts that are beyond the company's ability to control, such as future market conditions. Any such statements in this announcement speak only as at the date of this announcement. The company does not assume any obligation to, and does not intend to, revise or update these forward looking statements except as required pursuant to applicable law.


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For me, what I love about a destination wedding, is getting the opportunity to travel and to photograph in some amazing locations, but for you it means, having more than just a day to actually spend quality time with your nearest and dearest. Why not turn your wedding day into a week long vacation surrounded with people you love feeling relaxed and enjoying all your time together.
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I've photographed weddings in Hawaii, Rarotonga, Australia and New Zealand.
Please contact me here for more detailed information.
Lauren & Jon – Maui, Hawaii


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Workers in San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., are saving the most in their 401(k) plans, a study released May 20 by Fidelity found. Workers in those areas are saving on average almost 15% of their annual salary, including employers' and their own contributions.
When looking at just the employee contribution, San Jose and San Francisco still led other cities, although San Jose beat San Francisco slightly: 11.1% versus 10.4%.
However, San Jose employers had the lowest average contribution rate at just 3.5%. The city with the highest average employer contribution was Richmond, Va., at 5.8%, followed very closely by Columbus, Ohio, at 5.7%.
Fidelity studied data from 13 million 401(k) investors in metropolitan regions as identified in the 2013 Census Estimate for the report.
Workers in Raleigh, N.C., are also committed to saving, with an average combined contribution of 14% of their salary. Those in Houston and Hartford, Conn., are saving almost as much: 13.9% and 13.8% respectively.
Excluding employer contributions, Honolulu, Boston and Bridgeport, Conn., completed the top five at 9% each.
"The good news is that Americans nationwide are saving for retirement," Jim MacDonald, president of workplace investing at Fidelity Investments, said in a statement. "These cities lead the way with some of the most robust 401(k) savers in the country. High savings rates and low proportions of outstanding 401(k) loans indicate that these U.S. workers are on the right path."
In fact, not only were workers in San Francisco and San Jose saving more, they have some of the lowest rates of outstanding 401(k) loans. Just 11% of workers in San Jose and 13% of workers in San Francisco have an outstanding loan balance. The only city with a lower rate was Madison, Wis., at 10%.
The good behavior among California workers stops there, though. Close to a third of workers in Riverside and Bakersfield have outstanding 401(k) loan balances. An even third of workers in McAllen, Texas, had an outstanding loan balance.
Check out Top 10 Smartest States for Financial Literacy on ThinkAdvisor.