We at The Wedding Guide want to take this opportunity to send warm wishes to everyone for a successful 2013, and that you and your families are filled with love and good health in the new year. Happy New Year!

New Years Weddings

Will you be married when the ball drops?

Many couples want to begin the new year as man and wife.

We celebrate you!

Here is some history of the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, in celebration of the end of the year. Revelers began celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square. The first New Year's Eve Ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. It was built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, and for most of the twentieth century the company he founded, sign maker Artkraft Strauss, was responsible for lowering the ball.

As part of the 1907-1908 festivities, waiters in the fabled "lobster palaces" and other deluxe eateries in hotels surrounding Times Square were supplied with battery-powered top hats emblazoned with the numbers "1908" fashioned of tiny light bulbs. At the stroke of midnight, they all "flipped their lids" and the year on their foreheads lit up in conjunction with the numbers "1908" on the parapet of the Times Tower lighting up to signal the arrival of the new year. The Ball has been lowered every year since 1907, with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime "dimout" of lights in New York City. Nevertheless, the crowds still gathered in Times Square in those years and greeted the New Year with a minute of silence followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks parked at the base of the tower - a harkening-back to the earlier celebrations at Trinity Church, where crowds would gather to "ring out the old, ring in the new." In 1920, a 400 pound ball made entirely of wrought iron replaced the original. In 1955, the iron ball was replaced with an aluminum ball weighing a mere 200 pounds. This aluminum Ball remained unchanged until the 1980s, when red light bulbs and the addition of a green stem converted the Ball into an apple for the "I Love New York" marketing campaign from 1981 until 1988. After seven years, the traditional glowing white Ball with white light bulbs and without the green stem returned to brightly light the sky above Times Square. In 1995, the Ball was upgraded with aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes, and computer controls, but the aluminum ball was lowered for the last time in 1998. For Times Square 2000, the millennium celebration at the Crossroads of the World, the New Year's Eve Ball was completely redesigned by Waterford Crystal. The new crystal Ball combined the latest in technology with the most traditional of materials, reminding us of our past as we gazed into the future and the beginning of a new millennium.

Holidays Weddings

We wish everyone a Happy Holiday season. Enjoy this precious time with family and friends.

Remember that one small act of kindness can really brighten someones day. Do something nice for someone today, it will make both of you feel good!

For all the Brides and Grooms taking advantage of time off from work during the holidays to have a Christmas Wedding, we wish you a lifetime of happiness. Warm wishes for a Merry Christmas to all!

The Catering Choice

The question of whether or not to use a caterer, a restaurant, or fix your own food is more a matter of choice than cost. It’s difficult to plan, buy food, rent goods, prepare, serve and clean-up after a party and really enjoy going to the party. Friends who could help out prefer to be guests instead of volunteer workers.

Caterers are sometimes called “wedding consultants” for good reason. So much of the wedding revolves around the reception and serving your guests that it becomes the all important task of the caterer to see to all the details of the party.

It makes little difference if your party is for 50 or 500, your caterer should give you an opportunity to order as many or as few of his/her services as you require or as your budget allows. Do not be bashful — ask what is included! You should expect a complete written quotation covering the selected food, services, and extras you have ordered and their cost. Know in advance what you are getting and the total cost. Be prepared to pay a deposit in advance for the caterer to begin ordering your services, food and servers.

A catered rehearsal dinner is an excellent idea. It can be as formal or as casual as your setting and budget dictate. The gift opening party (usually the day after the wedding) is another occasion for which a caterer should be strongly considered. Parents of the bride and groom really have no time to prepare these parties themselves and still enjoy the wedding.

A professional caterer will help you plan your menu according to your wishes and budget and can supply almost all of the party needs including table covering, dishes, silver, ice, music, servers and clean-up people. He/she has the experience to really help you present a successful party with very little stress and worry.

The Benefits of Print Advertising

Regardless of the technological advancements and the trends that keep changing every now and then, printing services still offer the best marketing strategy in the advertising world. Companies rely on print media to communicate to their clients. Newspapers and magazines never run out of popularity and give companies competitive advantage. Print media is the best way in which a company can use to reach out to a specific target audience. For instance, most fashion lovers ensure they get a copy of their favourite fashion magazine on a regular basis. Fashion oriented companies that advertise on these magazines tend to have more clients since the information lands on the desired group. Reaching out to a target audience increases the opportunity of enhancing sales figures. Advertisements on print media have better performance and a longer lifespan, although it varies from one type to another. Magazines generally have a longer lifespan than newspapers although both generally last for long periods. Advertisements in print media are not just seen and forgotten after a while unlike the adverts posted on websites or television. These materials can be kept for years and referred to much later. Television advertisements usually flash and disappear in an instant. Adverts posted on print media however, give one the freedom to go through them at their own pace. Every time they read the magazine or newspaper, they see the same thing. The details therefore remain in the minds of the readers thereby popularizing the brand. Magazines and other print media have a larger target audience.

Advertisements shown on the internet usually reach out to the people watching at a particular time. Some may move out of a specific position for a short moment and miss the details. Print adverts on the other hand not only reach out to the purchasers in full detail, but also close family and friends as it is very easy to share the media. Print advertising gives a company the benefit of special advert positioning. An organization may pay a little more for a larger advertisement section. Instead of a small portion of a page, having a whole page for advertisement increases the visibility of the product. It draws more attention and greatly increases the chances of recognition by potential clients or customers.

Thanksgiving Day Weddings

We at The Wedding Guide wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Please do something fun with your family, and remember to be thankful for what you have. A wise friend once said to me "No matter who you are, there is always someone who wishes they were you!" I have remembered that many times, as it is so true. I am thankful always, not just one day a year, for who I am, the life I have, and most of all for my husband and daughter and the love of my family and close friends. So, I challenge you to make it the best holiday ever no matter how you will be spending it, from Debbie, publisher of The Wedding Guide.

Gala Bridal Event

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM The Legacy at Tustin Racquet Club 11782 Simon Ranch Rd., Santa Ana Year End Gala Hollywood Glam Style at The Legacy Tustin

The Legacy Ballroom provides a large open space to design and create your own unique event. The room has floor to ceiling windows that over look the beautiful tree lined and garden-like setting. The serene setting is the perfect spot for wedding ceremonies. The event space accommodates all types of events, wedding receptions, birthday parties, corporate events, and more! Groom's Tungsten Ring from Diana & Co. Jewelry Designs (Value $300) Dress to Impress Rock the Red Carpet Hollywood style Get your photo in front of our Member sponsored Step & Repeat Dance the Night Away Special Awards Savor the Creations from the chefs of Above All Catering Enjoy the sounds of our featured DJ Make Memories with Woody Woods Photography and ePod Photobooth Smell what's in bloom by Exotica Designs Florist See the beauty of Elegant Wind Waves and White Feathers Events Special deals from Diana & Company Jewelry Designs, Premier Bridal Shows, and more! Pick up your complimentary copy of The Wedding Guide VENDORS: Mixer is $10.00 Prepaid and $15.00 at the door. BRIDES ARE FREE (714) 970-6380 OCBrides.com