Issue January 15-31, 2005

We hope you enjoy our Wedding newsletter and find it both a fun and useful tool in the wedding planning process. Don't forget to book your Wedding Dance lessons with First Dance Impressions!

1) A Different Celebrity Wedding Photo from Past or Present!

Garlanded in fresh flowers we have Bollywood's Kajol Mukhorjee with Ajay Devgon
and Claudette Colbert from the movie "It Happened One Night".

2) A Wedding Tradition Explained!

"Wedding Leis"

The Lei is the Hawaiian symbol of Aloha and of Love. So Wedding Leis are a Hawaiian wedding tradition that goes way back. Exchanging these flower garlands represents love and respect.The Maile lei is the most traditional wedding Lei. During the ancient Hawaiian marriage ceremonies the Kahuna Pule (religious man) bound the hands of the Bride and Groom with Maile Leis as a symbol of the couple's sacred union and their commitment to each other. The traditional Lei for Hawaiian Brides to wear is fashioned from pikake buds whose white jasmine symbolize purity. These beautiful blossoms are deliciously fragrant. Other popular choices include Plumeria and orchids. Today, it is common for the Groom to wear the maile lei entwined with pikake and ilima. It’s customary for all the guests to wear leis as well. After exchanging the Leis, a conch shell was blown to summon the ancient gods and the Hawaiian Luau feast could begin!

3) Kim's Wedding Tips!

Always select flowers that can hold up to the temperatures of your wedding. If you know it is going to be warm, do not pick Calla Lilies for you bouquet and displays as they practically melt in the heat. Roses and carnations will stand up to everything from snow to sand and should be thought of as good filler flowers in harsh environments. More tropical flowers will open up and look even more beautiful in the warmth of an outdoor summer wedding. Avoid having white flowers touch your skin until the last moment as perspiration can cause some flowers (especially white) to turn brown and wither.

4) Kim's Wedding Dance Tip "Don't Give Up!"

Couples are often frustrated when they first start taking dance lessons. IT'S NORMAL! It is so normal in fact that only 25% of the people who take lessons will try again if they don't like it. What are the leading reasons for not taking dance lessons? Fear and Frustration: I hear all the time "I tried a group class once and I just couldn't get it." Large Group Dance Classes can be intimidating and confusing, especially for men. I often talk about the male desire to not look stupid. Men spend time and make choices based on this daily. In group dance classes everybody looks funny and makes mistakes. Laugh and Accept it as a part of the learning curve. Many people can't fully digest the material in a single lesson and people who do really well beginner group classes have often taken group dance classes before. Dancing is based on muscle memory. It needs to be re enforced. Have you ever seen anyone drive a stick shift, ride a bike, assume a yoga pose, ski beautifully, play tennis or ride a horse after one lesson? Doesn't happen. Don't Give Up! It gets easier very quickly. Try to stick to series where you learn only one or two dances over a six or eight week period. Take 1 or 2 private lessons before taking your first group class. Having a strong grasp on the basic step and timing going into a beginner group class can make all the difference in how well you absorb a series. Sometimes people do not click with a particular dance instructor. Try another! Dance Instructors, like dances come in a variety of flavors. Some are more formal while others have a more fun loving approach. Some teachers are focused towards competition, others towards social. Some teachers teach only one dance while others teach 18. Dancing is a long term investment in your lives together. Don't Give Up!

5) Group Classes

Our teachers run events and perform locally on a regular basis.

Argentine Tango Classes and Practice Parties,
Friday, January 21st, 2005

Catch the Passion of Tango! The 1st & 3rd Friday of every month. The international competitor and performer Fabio Bonini will be teaching the sexy Argentine Tango with a practice party "Milonga" afterwards. The "total beginner" lesson is 7:30-8:15pm and the "beginners’ challenge" lesson runs 8:15-9pm. From 9pm-midnight dance at the MILONGA (Argentine Tango Dance). Only $12! BYOB; soft drinks and snacks provided. Generations Dance Studio in Alexandria. For more details call Fabio Bonini at (703) 200-4520. All First Dance Impressions Students get a $2 discount at the door!

Sign up for our mini groups in the winter!
Have you and your friends always wanted to learn Swing, Salsa or even the sexy Argentine Tango? Dancing is a great stress reliever and wonderful social activity which can give you one of the best aerobic workouts possible. We will tailor a group class for 4, 6, 12 or even 50 people. No no experience is necessary. Call us at (703) 868-0982 for more information.

Argentine Tango Classes and Practice Parties,
Friday, February 5th, 2005

1st & 3rd Friday of every month the fabulous Fabio Bonini will be teaching the sexy Argentine Tango with a practice party "Milonga" afterwards. The "total beginner" lesson is 7:30-8:15pm and the "beginners’ challenge" lesson runs 8:15-9pm. From 9pm-midnight dance at the MILONGA (Argentine Tango Dance). Only $12! BYOB; soft drinks and snacks provided. Generations Dance Studio in Alexandria.For more details call Fabio Bonini at (703) 200-4520. All First Dance Impressions Students get a $2 discount at the door!

6) This issue's Featured Vendor

Click on the banner above to visit Frame your Day or
Click here to e-mail Dana Dwyer, Owner of Frame Your Day

Frame your day offers you a great way to make beautiful keepsakes with your wedding invitations and photos. You select the pictures and /or images and provide one of your invitations. Dana Dwyer will discuss your wedding flowers and colors with you to inspire a completely original display. This also makes a lovely gift for the bridal couple (Mom's!). While we mainly deal with weddings with our Ezine vendors, Birth certificates, diplomas or other important sentimental documents could be substituted in place of the wedding invitations to commemorate and celebrate other big moments in your lives together.

7) Poems, Prayers & Promises

A romantic quote to simply to elevate your mood or to help you find the right sentiment for your vows or ceremony.

"One Heart For One Heart,
One Soul For One Soul,
One Love For One Love,
Even Through Eternity."

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8) A New Bridal Themed Wallpaper for your computer desktop!

Now your computer screen can be dressed up too! Simply right click your mouse on our background and tell your computer to save ("set") as wall paper, BUT be sure you have saved the current background on you computer desktop first, if you want to get it back! If the background does not show up immediately, right click on your desktop background and click on refresh.

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