"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed." -C.G. Jung

Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness and homecoming. The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and celebration. In addition, the circle in rock art, sacred stone arrays, and astrology represents both the Sun and the Moon, themselves astrological and alchemical symbols for the masculine and feminine aspects of the cosmos. This correspondence with the Sun and Moon is emphasized by the frequent practice of choosing gold for one betrothed and silver for the other, as gold and silver are the metals long associated with the Sun and Moon respectively.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

The widespread tradition of embellishing the plain gold or silver wedding band with various designs and patterns has been known since at least 700 AD, in both Pan-Hellenic and Celtic cultures. The quite ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the serpent which consumes its own tail, was a theme used for wedding rings made of iron in Rome. The ouroboros itself is a symbol of the oneness of creation and destruction in renewal, and the life principle which timelessly feeds on its own inspiration. It also represents the hope for a lifelong marriage union that’s continually renewed.

Celtic wedding rings are often gorgeously decorated with geometric knot work patterns that have a long history and central place in Celtic art. These patterns are strongly vegetative, suggesting tendrils and vines. In fact, in much of Celtic art, including the famous illuminated Bible, The Book of Kells, these Celtic Knots emerge from or transform into vegetative foliage. The beautiful symmetry of these woven patterns is often not square, rigid, or overly formal, but organic, flowing, and a stylized reflection of the curves and spirals found in nature. Indeed, the Celtic Knots that embellish wedding rings herald the ideas of spring, fertility, and the eternal reawakening of the life force - all of which bode well

Attendants

Attendants, include the best man, Bridesmaid, ushers, and groomsmen. Generally any people with some sort of responsibility on the big day. How many attendants are up to you but you need to consider the size of the church and your budget for the outfits and gifts. You need to rely on these for some of the organization of the day so choose carefully, the last thing you need is someone irresponsible in charge of the "rings" or any important tasks your require.

Budget

Every wedding has a budget be it a no hold bar white wedding extravaganza or a low-key smaller affair both can be a beautiful fun day for everyone. There are many ways to cut the cost on the big day with out compromising on style and atmosphere. You can do a lot of the organizing yourself, friends and family are always there to help with things like the video camera and helping to drive guests from the ceremony to the after party.

Cake

This is another important feature; as the cake will appear in the "cutting of the cake" photograph another staple of the wedding album. The flowers and bridesmaids out fits will also influence the style and color of the cake you do not have to settle for fruitcake though as there are endless fillings to choose from, this can also double as desert if you are on a tight budget.

Dress

The dress is going to be the center of attention for the whole wedding. The perfect dress should make the bride feel and look beautiful. This is achieved by a well-fitted dress that is flattering to the figure. Most importantly the dress should be comfortable as you will be wearing it all day long through out dinner and also dancing the night away, if you spend the day pulling and adjusting your dress this could ruin your whole day. Remember a happy bride will look beautiful either way.

Entertainment

The entertainment you choose for the after ceremony party should vary depending on what type of weeding your going for, from the classical stringed quartet to the full on wedding band. Any professional entertainment will eat into your budget but whatever you choose make sure you go to see them play before your big day as you do want your guests to have a good time and not spend the evening cringing at a nightmare wedding singer.

Flowers

The bridesmaid’s outfits will set the trend for the colors of the flowers, so keep this in mind when choosing the color theme. These can range from the most flamboyant bouquet to the simplest white lilies. The most important being the bride’s bouquet as this

There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.

Vintage Gowns

Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.

Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.

For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.

Romantic or fairytale gowns

These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.

Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular

It goes without saying that we all want to look our best for the big day. So preparation is the key. Take care of your skin, hair and body in the months leading up to the wedding and you will have a good base to start from.

Starting with body, you want to look slim and happy in your wedding gown not bloated and insecure so watch what you eat in the months coming up to the wedding and exercise regularly. A good tip to prevent bloating as sworn by Hollywood stars before the Oscars are to cut down on carb’s the last few weeks before the big day. This should eliminate any unwanted bumps and bulges.

To give your skin that healthy glow desired by all, you need to drink plenty of water, at least 2 liters per day, dehydrated skin looks dull, dry and unattractive. The essential fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, nuts and seeds are essential for beautiful skin and hair, try to eat as much of these as possible. Jennifer Lopez swears by this, she is so well known for her glowing, perfect skin that her perfume was called Glow in reference to her glowing complexion.

Keep your skin in shape with a daily cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine. It’s very important that you are using the right products for your skin type. You can get advice from your local beauty sales counters on the best products out there for you. Remember to exfoliate your skin weekly, this will eliminate old dull skin cells and reveal new fresh skin beneath.

You should have an exfoliating routine for your back, arms and chest or any other part of your skin that will be on show in your dress. This will give a lovely healthy shine to your body. Remember to lash on loads of body cream after you exfoliate to sooth and moisten the skin.

If you are unlucky enough to have dry frizzy hair or you use color and harsh styling products regularly, you need to give your hair regular hair masks to bring the life and shine back to your tresses. Most salons provide hair treatments with lovely essential oil and vitamin products, which are great for your hair and scalp as a lovely weekly or biweekly treat. The price can range from $30 to $80 depending on the salon.

If you are more of a DIY girl why don’t you purchase your own intensive moisturizing hair conditioner and do your own treatment. When you have put the treatment in the hair apply heat to using a hairdryer, then wrap your hair in cling film to keep in the heat, leaving as long as you desire this will prove a