> Hi-Do the airlines really care if you book a priceline ticket if you > are 20 instead of 21?

As far as an airline is concerned, if you’re 12 or older, you’re an adult. > Also, I booked a hotel on priceline in DC, will they ask for ID?  or > is a credit card good enough?  I didn’t realize you had to be 21 > before booking… I’m 20 so I hope they won’t care.

Probably they won’t. You’re prepaid, so they have their money. — _Deirdre  web: http://deirdre.net    blog: http://deirdre.org/blog/ "Memes are a hoax! Pass it on!"

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Hi-Do the airlines really care if you book a priceline ticket if you are 20 instead of 21? Also, I booked a hotel on priceline in DC, will they ask for ID?  or is a credit card good enough?  I didn’t realize you had to be 21 before booking… I’m 20 so I hope they won’t care. Thanks, Dan

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>Hi-Do the airlines really care if you book a priceline ticket if you >are 20 instead of 21?

I’ve never seen the airlines care – they just want to be sure your ID matches the ticket name. >Also, I booked a hotel on priceline in DC, will they ask for ID?  or >is a credit card good enough?  I didn’t realize you had to be 21 >before booking… I’m 20 so I hope they won’t care.

You best call the hotel and see what their policy is. This also depends on local law. I’ve almost always been asked to produce ID when checking in to a hotel. It’s been a while since I passed 21 though…

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Dan Kline extrapolated from data available… > Hi-Do the airlines really care if you book a priceline ticket if you > are 20 instead of 21? > Also, I booked a hotel on priceline in DC, will they ask for ID?  or > is a credit card good enough?  I didn’t realize you had to be 21 > before booking… I’m 20 so I hope they won’t care. > Thanks, > Dan

Sort of a rule… The "cheaper" (down market) the hotel or chain is, the more likely you’ll be asked for an ID, or translated, "On occasion at the Super 8, but almost never at the J. W. Marriott." I was asked for my DL checking in to a reserved (with credit card) room in a small city in the "Big Thicket" of East Texas (an area which in a cultural sense can be compared to rural Applachia) the other day.  Even with occasional stays at "Motel 6" and the like (in small towns across the US, the choices can be minimal and when your profession takes you to small towns, you dance with them what brung’ya), this was the first time I recall being asked for ID at a US hotel in a number of years.  On the other hand, I’m an old geezer. Europe’s different, far away lands with inhabitants long accustomed to producing documents for all sorts of natural functions such as sleeping.   Shucks, in my youth, one had to show ID or a passport at the Italian post office to make a cheap long distance phone call, and Alexandre Dumas’s France had letters signed by high eminences which would get you arrested and endungeoned within a few ticks of the bureaucratic clock. Now, does your girlfriend have a cheap imitation wedding ring, an absolute necessity back in the US of the 50s, where young couples checking into hotels were subjects of grave suspicion? TMO

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> > I have flown on 20 different airlines over the years and so far the most > exciting thing that has happened is that once we were diverted to > Stanstead > as the Canadian pilots decided to go on strike so they had to put down at > an > alternative airport as all the AC slots at LHR were full and there was no > space on the tarmac for them. > And what happend? Did they give you a free ride to LHR or to your > destination as compensation?

They laid on a fleet of coaches to LHR, from where we then had to get on a National Express coach and head back around the M25 to head back home. > I flew from Newcastle to Dublin once in a Jetstream turboprop. Not very high > altidude and gave excellent turbulence when going through the clouds! The > guy sat beside me gripped the arm rest tightly and kept his eyes shut for > the entire flight!

My fears are totally irrational and seem to kick in when I least expect. Flown from East Midlands to Belfast in one of BMI’s Saab turbo-props a few times and experienced some nice lumpy bits, but that didn’t concern me. Earlier this year I flew from Auckland to Wellington and as usual the approach into Wellington was a roller coaster with wind blowing the plane every which way and all you could see out the windows was the Cook Strait, I just watched calmly, whereas my friend who isn’t usually afraid of flying gripped the arm rests tightly.  The last time I panicked was on a completely smooth flight from BHX to CPH.  I wish I could figure it out!!!

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> I have flown on 20 different airlines over the years and so far the most > exciting thing that has happened is that once we were diverted to Stanstead > as the Canadian pilots decided to go on strike so they had to put down at an > alternative airport as all the AC slots at LHR were full and there was no > space on the tarmac for them.

And what happend? Did they give you a free ride to LHR or to your destination as compensation? > Unless of course you count the fact that I > have one of those irrational fears of flying which means I occasionally turn > white as a ghost at 30000ft and have to spend a little while controlling my > mind and breathing.

I flew from Newcastle to Dublin once in a Jetstream turboprop. Not very high altidude and gave excellent turbulence when going through the clouds! The guy sat beside me gripped the arm rest tightly and kept his eyes shut for the entire flight!

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> I will probably include an "executive summary" myself. But if you think you > can get it shorter, then feel free :-p > I hope my summary is exactly the same as yours however

How about if you write the summary and I try to guess/write the long winded details as I seem better at that

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> I hope my summary is exactly the same as yours however

I hope so too. As mentioned previously it is so much nicer to see some reports that balance all the negative ones that seem to be the staple of most people who bother to post. I have flown on 20 different airlines over the years and so far the most exciting thing that has happened is that once we were diverted to Stanstead as the Canadian pilots decided to go on strike so they had to put down at an alternative airport as all the AC slots at LHR were full and there was no space on the tarmac for them.  Unless of course you count the fact that I have one of those irrational fears of flying which means I occasionally turn white as a ghost at 30000ft and have to spend a little while controlling my mind and breathing.  (This has lead to some interesting flights in the past, including once flying in the jump seat of a Fokker 100 (I think, it was certainly a Fokker can’t remember the exact series) across the Australian Outback as the pilot took pity on me, something that certainly would not happen in these days of heightened security)

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> On the contrary. The OP account was a good read. In fact you will note I > said I may well do the same after my flight

May I summarise that trip report afterwards??? ;-p

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> On the contrary. The OP account was a good read. In fact you will note I > said I may well do the same after my flight > May I summarise that trip report afterwards??? ;-p

I will probably include an "executive summary" myself. But if you think you can get it shorter, then feel free :-p I hope my summary is exactly the same as yours however

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Just a quick reply (probably, as already noted I have never been able to write 1 word when a hundred will so) > Did you ever consider leaving a day earlier in order to have a > Saturday night stay, as this would’ve brought the price down quite > substantially? Also, I think the most convenient routing would be > taking SK BHX-CPH-GDN.

I tried all sorts of combinations of Friday/Saturday/Sunday out and Fri/Sat/Sun return and stupidly this was the cheapest (and incidentally the most convenient time wise too).  The main problem was the fact that I only found out the destination 12 days before I had to fly so most of the best cheap tickets had already gone. As for the routing via CPH would have been my first choice (I did this last year when I went to WRO (Wroclaw))  But the problem is that to do this I would have had to fly BHX-CPH on the Friday night, then overnight in CPH (what a hardship) then fly to GDN on either the Saturday or Sunday, then the return would have had to be on the following Sunday, as the flight to CPH on Friday left too early (I spent the morning at work so as the flight combination I took started at 16:30ish, I was able to do that and get home that day)

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->A good read. But for those who don’t have time to read it all. Here is a >summary: >Went from BHX-FRA-WAW-GDN and back again. No problems. >.end. > Do you advocate only posting trip reports where something goes wrong or > something bad can be said about an airline? Such reports as that posted here > help to balance the prejudice view you get from reading newsgroup where most > only post to complain.

On the contrary. The OP account was a good read. In fact you will note I said I may well do the same after my flight

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>A good read. But for those who don’t have time to read it all. Here is a >summary: >Went from BHX-FRA-WAW-GDN and back again. No problems. >.end.

Do you advocate only posting trip reports where something goes wrong or something bad can be said about an airline? Such reports as that posted here help to balance the prejudice view you get from reading newsgroup where most only post to complain. — Lansbury www.uk-air.net FAQs for alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup

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 A good read. But for those who don’t have time to read it all. Here is a summary: Went from BHX-FRA-WAW-GDN and back again. No problems. .end. Maybe I will post an account of my NCL-LHR-IAD-SEA-IAD-LHR-NCL trip next month.

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>  A good read. But for those who don’t have time to read it all. Here is a > summary: > Went from BHX-FRA-WAW-GDN and back again. No problems. > .end.

and I thought only women were bitchy

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> find the best price (I eventually got the airfare for a little over 500GBP > through opodo, whereas every other source wanted in excess of 1000GBP.  The > only disadvantage was the routing having 2 changes)

Did you ever consider leaving a day earlier in order to have a Saturday night stay, as this would’ve brought the price down quite substantially? Also, I think the most convenient routing would be taking SK BHX-CPH-GDN.

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I thought it was about time that I stopped just reading the reports and messages on this newsgroup and got around to participating (especially as this account will only be valid for a month more and so I don’t really care how much junk it generates (if anyone is silly enough to select it in the future then it will be their problem!!!)) Last week saw me travelling to Poland for what has become an annual trip to do some training for a client, each time they select another part of Poland for me to visit with them (so far they have taken me to Poznan, Wroclaw, Karpacz and this year to the seaside – Gdansk)  And as with previous times they spring the location on me at fairly short notice so it took me a while to find a value for money routing – in fact this year it took me about 7 hours of trawling through various online and traditional travel services to find the best price (I eventually got the airfare for a little over 500GBP through opodo, whereas every other source wanted in excess of 1000GBP.  The only disadvantage was the routing having 2 changes) So headed down to Birmingham early on Sunday morning to check in for the 0655 flight to FRA (being English and used to having to arrive at the airport a number of hours before the flight we got there for a little after 0500)  Checked in and received the boarding passes for all three flights and watched as my baggage was slowly sent down the belt hoping that it would also make it all the way to Gdansk.  Sat down and had breakfast before slowly making my way to security.  As usual at BHX after checking the boarding cards you join one of 2 queues to head through the metal detector and send your hand baggage through the x-ray machine, as usual I ensured that anything even vaguely likely to set off the metal detector was in my jacket pockets which I sent through the little metal tunnel to be examined on the little screen in false colour.  Still managed to set off the alarm (forgot my watch, and as I wear a wedding ring and glasses it had to be one of these things as there was no other metal anywhere on my person, the shoes I was wearing didn’t contain any metal either (I know, they have been wanded often enough)) so had to be quickly wanded down, then it was through to the departure lounge where I spent 15 minutes or so wandering around in circles ignoring the shops as they never have anything of interest (in the UK anyway) and anything that is of interest can be bought cheaper by ignoring the high street (which the shops in "duty free" generally base their figures on) and buying it from a specialist shop. Flight 1 : 1st June 2003 (I would put 1/6/03, but that would cause so much confusion across the Atlantic with each side thinking it was a different date) BHX – FRA (Birmingham International to Frankfurt) LH4537.  Aircraft 737-500 (reg: D-ABJC).  Scheduled boarding time (according to the boarding pass anyway) 6:25 for a scheduled departure of 6:55, actual time called to board 6:33.  As BHX likes to keep the gate numbers secret until boarding time (to ensure you spend more money in the shops and thus generate more income for the airport) there was a sudden surge of people heading towards the corridor heading down to the gates.  Once we arrived at the gate we then had to stand in a queue to have our passports and boarding passes checked before making our way down the airbridge to the waiting plane.  Initially I was given seat 15D and a dear old couple came along having been given seats 15E/F, but as the plane was half full once boarding was complete the flight attendant asked if I would like to move to row 14 as there was no-one in seats A/B/C (strangely enough I didn’t decline this offer)  Push back occurred at 6:57 and we were up in the air at 7:07.  As usual (thankfully) the flight was uneventful with a snack being offered once we reached cruising altitude (which the captain said was 33,000ft) – being in cattle class it was the usual Lufthansa choice of either a cheese or turkey roll followed by drinks being offered twice (and being a full service European airline they offered soft and alcoholic drinks even at this hour of the morning).  Our routing took us down towards London then quickly across the channel to Brussels before heading into FRA.  Touch down occurred at 9:22 local time (the time at FRA is one hour ahead of BHX).  As we were hurtling down the runway slowing down we passed about 30 USAF cargo planes sitting on the tarmac at the edge of the airfield (I believe they were Globemasters, but I am not all that up on the larger military planes).The plane then taxied to terminal A where we hooked up to an airbridge, but were told we had to depart by the rear doors to a bus which would take us to the terminal.  As the plane was only 50% full the bus wasn’t crowded and was filled quickly so we were able to make our way to terminal B on the roadways along the edge of the terminal buildings. Flight 2 (still) 1st June 2003 – FRA-WAW (Frankfurt – Warsaw) LH3272. Aircraft 737-300 (reg D-ABXR) having been bussed from terminal A to terminal B I then had to head back up to the skytrain to go back to terminal A.  When I arrived the flight still hadn’t been given a gate according to the computer screens (all they said was terminal A), but my boarding pass had the gate number already (A57)  So as there was no-one at the gate yet I decided that I would go for a wander along the corridor and look at the shops, but for some reason (still don’t know exactly why) security had divided the terminal in 2 and only passengers with gates beyond (at this time) A57 could continue further (after passing through another metal detector and passing hand baggage through an x-ray machine) So I had to content myself with walking along the other half of the corridor while I waited for the boarding announcement scheduled for 11:05, actual time 11:10 for a 11:35 departure.  just before push back at 11:33 the captain mentioned over the speakers that the plane was heavy that morning and looking around it appeared that the flight was about 90% full (but I still managed to be one of the few people with an empty seat next to me)  Wheels up occurred at 11:33 and we had the second uneventful flight of the day, again a snack was given to us once we had reached cruising altitude (31,000ft).  Unlike the previous flight we were given a small tray of food which consisted of a roll and a small cold platter with cheese ham and a little bit of salad and a Milka chocolate bar followed by 2 rounds of drinks, but most surprisingly of all we had metal cutlery.  The routing took us from FRA over Prague and then into Warsaw.  We touched down at 13:05 and made our way to the terminal building where we hooked up to an airbridge and headed for immigration and customs.  (As I was unsure as to what would happen to my baggage as the next sector was a domestic one I waited at the baggage carousel for my bag to arrive, but when it didn’t I asked an airline employee and was told that it would be sent through to Gdansk and that I would clear customs there)  So headed across to the domestic terminal. Flight 3 1st June 2003 – WAW-GDN (Warsaw to Gdansk) LO3813.  Aircraft Embraer 145 (reg SP LGF)  Went into the domestic terminal to be confronted with an x-ray machine and as there was a queue joined it and passed my hand luggage through it, on the other side of the x-ray machines there was the check-in desks and then another queue to pass hand-baggage through another x-ray machine and a metal detector (usual trick of placing everything in my jacket, but this time didn’t set off the alarm) and now I entered the departure lounge off to one side were 2 gates (well doors in the glass airside frontage) and a room which was smaller than some class rooms I have seen.  Sat down for 20 minutes or so waiting for the boarding call which was scheduled for 14:20 but actually occurred at 14:30 so we filed out to a waiting bus which then proceeded to do nothing until 14:40 (10 minutes before scheduled departure)  push back occurred at 15:12 (strictly as we were on a remote(!) stand we just thrust forward and went onto the taxiways) wheels up at 15:19.  Again another uneventful flight, but this time I have no information as the cockpit was strangely silent only talking once when we were on the ground, as this was a short hop we weren’t all that high (probably in the high teens ft)  The flight appeared to be 100% full (I couldn’t see any spare seats) but as this was a regional jet and the seating configuration is 1-2 I had no-one crowding me in.  We were served a quick snack which was simply an individually wrapped packet of 2 Delicje (similar to Jaffa Cakes in the UK) and a choice of drinks.  touched down at 15:54 and as Gdansk is a small regional airport we were at the terminal at 15:56.  We were then bussed to the terminal where they dropped off domestic passengers first and then drove about 50m to another entrance and dropped off the people who arrived at Warsaw on international flights.  My bag was already waiting for me on the carousel (I had seen it come off the plane and speed past while the domestic passengers were getting off the bus, it is one of the great advantages of having a bright yellow hard-shell case, you know it is there when you catch a brief glimpse of the baggage trucks) Now for the return: Flight 1 6th June 2003 (I could get away with writing 6/6/03 as it makes no difference, but for consistency I will use the long formal method) GDN-WAW (Gdansk to Warsaw) LO3814.  Aircraft ATR 72 (reg SP-LFH) (this flights was operated by EuroLot)  Arrived at check in and got boarding passes for all the flights and said goodbye to my baggage hoping it would also make it through the 2 connections. (Had a problem getting my AirNZ airpoints card to register on the genuine Lufthansa flights, so will have to send my boarding passes in when I get the chance)  Headed upstairs to the departure floor and sat in a small viewing area as the … read more »

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Ron NG does not seem to know jack. Tacky is paying $50 a plate for steak that is cooked to the point of dry. If the wedding is small, and the budget is tight, then having a family provide food may be an excellent suggestion. I would NOT suggest requesting this in an invitation however. We did exactly that at our wedding. What did we end up with? Salmon, Crab, Shrimp platters, home made pasta, fondue, fresh fruit, and plenty more. As someone who has sampled the fare at a few hunderd weddings, I can only say that it’s the poorest meal for the dollar one can get. This is not the fault of a cater. It’s very difficult preparing steak for 200, all ready at the same time, and cooked to individual taste.n Since that is mostly impossible, the steak is generally medium well, but often well.  Another option is chicken. Chicken! for $50 a plate!  Buffet is likely the best way to go. Still not anything near what my family cooked up for our Celibration. Ron

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Actually, I don’t think pot-luck has to be "tacky" if you’re having a VERY >informal and casual wedding. > It’s is VULGAR. > Ron Ng Knows!

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A friend of mine made a very good point….. "tacky" is a gay man’s word *snickers* so is Vulgar – hmm….. so I suppose Mr. No Good (NG) could be looking for a same sex wedding? Nah, nevermind LOL

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> A friend of mine made a very good point….. "tacky" is a gay man’s word > *snickers* so is Vulgar – hmm….. so I suppose Mr. No Good (NG) could be > looking for a same sex wedding? > Nah, nevermind LOL

"Tacky" seems to be required for talk about wedding stuff you don’t like.  I don’t hear much called "tacky" outside the wedding planning newsgroups, even among the gay men I know. — aMAZon zeszutko at nycap.rr.com "It’s never too late to have a happy childhood."

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> I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing!  Weddings can be so > commercialized and out of hand. > Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are > made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those > of folks with tons of money.

        Ummm…but so far, I think every post in this thread that has suggested not doing the potluck has *NOT* in *ANY* way suggested that you must feed the hordes lobster and caviar.  I also don’t recall anyone suggesting that it’s inappropriate to get married without spending a fortune.  That’s a red herring.  People have suggested that one provide what one can afford and DO WITHOUT the rest, along with refusing to charge one’s guests admission (i.e., food) in order to attend one’s wedding.  That is not suggesting that someone is having less of a wedding.  It is the person who is resorting to dunning guests in order to put on a wedding beyond his or her means who apparently feel that a more modest wedding is unacceptable. > I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a > more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism.  I > admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an > enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt.  After all, you are displaying > matters?

        It matters–but so does treating one’s guests like *guests*, and not like deep pockets.  It’s a fine and lovely idea to decide to opt out of the commercial wedding rat race.  It’s just not fine to do that by shifting the costs to one’s guests. Best wishes, Ericka

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> I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing!  Weddings can be so > commercialized and out of hand. > Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are > made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those > of folks with tons of money.  I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a > more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism.  I > admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an > enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt.  After all, you are displaying > matters?

The problem is people who do not care to "blow" thier money on 4 hours of "commercialism" but are quite happy to require their guests do it for them by means of catering the reception. Most people can afford a cake, punch, mints and nuts reception costing a few hundred dollars at most.  Unfortunately, many people view that as beneath them and are willing to soak the guests to get a reception more in keeping with what they believe they are owed.

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I think it is fine to do exactly what you are doing!  Weddings can be so commercialized and out of hand. Those who cant afford $2,000 dresses, limos,and $80 per plate catering are made to feel like their wedding will somehow be less of a wedding that those of folks with tons of money.  I, quite frankly, plan to spend my money in a more logical way rather than blow it all on 4 hours of commericalism.  I admire those who work within their means, like yourselves, to make an enjoyable day that dosnt leave you in debt.  After all, you are displaying matters? I wish you luck…. -Kelly

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> *yawn* > > Food (pot luck, guests bring dishes) > How VULGAR! > >Favors (hard time deciding considering we are low income) > How VULGAR! > Ron Ng Knows!

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> hi there

first i want to say congratulations on your engagement.  As far as being financially restricted i completely understand where you are coming from.  i am a single mom who works and attends school full-time, so i know it feels to never have enough for exactly what you want.  as far as invitations, i am a graphic arts major and am currently looking for freelance work.  i would be very interested in helping you out.  send me an email if you are interested, and we can discuss things further.  Also, as far as the favors are concerned I just did favors for my mom’s wedding and am doing the favor’s for my sister’s in the beginning of august.  My mother was married in Cape Cod and honeymooned in Nantucket.  She went to the Christmas tree shop and bought 1.99 nantucket baskets, which I decorated with a simple ribbon, silk rose, and a label I designed.  For my sister’s wedding, I am using my pc to burn her and fer fiance’s favorite love songs on cd’s.  She bought cases for the cd’s (50 for $10) and I am creating cover’s for the cd’s including their engagement photo.  If I can possibly help you with anything let me know -deb

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >  > If money is that tight, skip the favors completely. >  > Personally, I’d do cake and punch before I’d ask guests to bring food >  (your >  > pot-luck plan). I’d also scale back the number of guests before I’d >  do pot >  > luck. >  > Invitations can be handwritten if printing costs are beyond your budget. >  > It’s the way things were done years ago if they weren’t engraved (and >  only >  > the very wealthy sprung for engraving). >    I’d agree with all that.  Pot-lucks are okay if your *guests* > organize that for you, but you can’t politely send an invitation > asking people to bring food to your wedding.  I think most people > would be astonished to receive a favor when they weren’t provided > with any refreshments–looks like odd priorities on the part of > the hosts.  I’d absolutely skip favors (most of them aren’t worth > the trouble anyway) and scale back to cake and punch (and consider > accepting graciously if others *offer* to bring something). >    Handwriting the invitations is prefectly charming and > proper and could save a pretty penny, which you could put towards > refreshments. > Best wishes, > Ericka

Seconded here, on all counts. I also read the previous post in which "Mercedes insists on" favors. Honestly, it seems the priorities are skewed here if money is at such an issue that you need to ask guests to provide the food for the supper but are planning to have favors to hand out. Here’s the thing:  the reception is the first party you are *hosting* as a couple (emphasis deliberate).  Do you invite people to dine in your home and ask them to bring a main dish is their last name begins with A-D?  Now, certainly if someone brings a bottle of wine to share with those at the table, that’s a different matter … but you didn’t ask them to bring it.  You should view your reception in exactly the same way.  If you tell people you are serving cake and punch, they can plan accordingly (i.e., eat before they get there or after they leave).  There is no reason to go into debt over your wedding … you have what you can afford and no more.  If that means cake and punch, and no favors, so be it. Sharon in San Jose Happily married to Jeff since 9/28/02

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>Actually, I don’t think pot-luck has to be "tacky" if you’re having a VERY >informal and casual wedding.

It’s is VULGAR. Ron Ng Knows!

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> First off, when an invitation comes with my name and address as the return > address, I hardly think they will toss it thinking some organization is > asking for money – second, about the pot-luck thing – what would you suggest > a person on welfare do for catering? Certainly not McDonalds.

        You are under utterly no obligation to provide an elaborate meal for your guests!  If you schedule your wedding at the appropriate time of day, it is perfectly proper and charming to serve cake and punch or tea and cookies or whatever suits.  It is your guests who would be terribly rude to criticize such a decision, not you. Best wishes, Ericka

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 The Wedding" is the part where you stand up in front of some official and he/she asks. Do you?  And you say "yes" and he/she asks do you? And she says, "yes" and then he / she says, "By the power vested in me, I pronounce you Husband and wife". That’s the wedding part. For my husband and I, and we were married this past Nov. 1st that part cost $35 for the license and another $15 for the cost of the Judge. The other thing is the party you are throwing for the two of you and everybody else, after the wedding.  We did our entire wedding on a Friday morning, with just the two of us there, well three if you count the Judge. My Husband bought me flowers since I wanted to carry them ($58) and we wore clothes we already had or could wear again. (No wedding gown, no tux) we got our wedding photo taken by a female guard at the front door of the courthouse. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom. So we asked her to do it. BTW that photo turned out pretty well. We went to a photo place and enlarged it and cropped out the extra stuff around us. So we have it in a nice frame in our living room.  You DO NOT need to have the big party after you get married. It’s not required. You want to be married? Fine go and do it. If you have no money and trust me we had very little money when we got married, you can do it. You want the big party, fine either wait or invite less people. I would do both.  I wanted to be married. I loved this man and we wanted to live together as Husband and wife, do I regret not having a big party after my wedding? No. I am still married I have a license, a wedding ring and a picture to prove it. And a husband. You won’t get wedding gifts if you do what we did, you will get cards in the mail. We got a few and one from work that everyone signed.    Sometimes I think people assume that getting married means getting lots of "stuff" I think that cheapens the wedding somehow. I actually overheard one Bride saying ‘ well, we need to invite ’so and so’ they are pretty rich and they will bring us a nice present’. We actually managed to get married for less then $400 dollars, that included the honeymoon. We drove to Chicago spent the night and drove home.  The flowers and the dinner at the hotel up there.    You want to get married. Go and do it. Get a ring and a license and go get married, you want a big party for your friends and family, do that in a year or so. It’s called the anniversary. You give a party everyone comes and you celebrate. The wedding is the official part the reception is the party after that. You can get married without the party, without invitations, favors and 300 engraved matchbooks that match the bridesmaid’s shoes.   Amber

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 > If money is that tight, skip the favors completely.  >  > Personally, I’d do cake and punch before I’d ask guests to bring food (your  > pot-luck plan). I’d also scale back the number of guests before I’d do pot  > luck.  >  > Invitations can be handwritten if printing costs are beyond your budget.  > It’s the way things were done years ago if they weren’t engraved (and only  > the very wealthy sprung for engraving).         I’d agree with all that.  Pot-lucks are okay if your *guests* organize that for you, but you can’t politely send an invitation asking people to bring food to your wedding.  I think most people would be astonished to receive a favor when they weren’t provided with any refreshments–looks like odd priorities on the part of the hosts.  I’d absolutely skip favors (most of them aren’t worth the trouble anyway) and scale back to cake and punch (and consider accepting graciously if others *offer* to bring something).         Handwriting the invitations is prefectly charming and proper and could save a pretty penny, which you could put towards refreshments. Best wishes, Ericka

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>     Food (pot luck, guests bring dishes) >     Cake (possibility of a multi-tiered (shelves) of cupcakes)

I agree with the comments so far, if you can’t afford to feed everyone don’t.  Cake and punch is fine.  A simple round cake that is decorated, and sheet cakes are fine.  I had never thought of the cupcake idea – but that could be fun too. >     Favors (hard time deciding considering we are low income)

Unless you have money to toss around, skip the favors.   Favors typically end up in the trash within a week anyway.  My wife and I still hear from a few people who have our favor – but if you take parents and grandparents out of the equation, I doubt that even a half dozen copies survived to our first anniverssary. >     Music (unless a DJ donates time we have a stereo with the capability of > making CD’s of love songs and dance steps)

My advice is to not try to make a "dancable" collection of music ahead of time.  It is almost impossible to pre-program a dance party. Instead, I would suggest that you go to your local "warehouse club" (ie. Sams, Costco), and look at their boxed set collections.  Decide on the mood that you want to set with the background music.  For instance, you can get 10 CD’s of classical music for $15.  You can get 3 or 4 hours of music for under $20.  They also have collections of jazz, R&B, Oldies (Big Band), and more.  This is a great place to get collections of backgound music. –Stan Graves http://www.SoundInMotionDJ.com A Mobile DJ, serving the DFW, Texas area.

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LOL!!! Thanks Jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > <snip> > It’s is VULGAR. > Abusing the English language like that (in such a short sentence, mind you) > is also VULGAR.

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My fianc

I like the art for purchase at www.eyewire.com There is a wide variety of art types (clip art, illustrations, stock photography), styles, and prices. Jackie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, >Im in the process of designing my own wedding invitations, and I need to >find some quality graphics for using in the corners or somewhere around the >page to acentuate the text in the middle. >Does anyone know of a good website or cheap program which will contain >something suitable (Ie a picture of long stemmed rose, heart, wedding ring >etc) >Jon

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Try Microsoft’s Design Gallery Live….tons of stuff here. http://dgl.microsoft.com/ Good luck with the design! Wyndancyr — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

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If you have Adobe or Corel and are able to alter images (i.e. sizes, colors, etc.) there is a "program" called Click Art, it comes in various size packages (10,000 images -350,000) and different categories as well (christian clip art, business clip art, greetings clip art, general clip art). It isn’t really a program but just CD’s of clip art. I have one of their sets and I find it adequate for most everything I do (with a little work put into it) unless I need an actual photograph or just a texture. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Try Microsoft’s Design Gallery Live….tons of stuff here. > http://dgl.microsoft.com/ > Good luck with the design! > Wyndancyr > — > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

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Hi, Im in the process of designing my own wedding invitations, and I need to find some quality graphics for using in the corners or somewhere around the page to acentuate the text in the middle. Does anyone know of a good website or cheap program which will contain something suitable (Ie a picture of long stemmed rose, heart, wedding ring etc) Jon

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i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours. i was thinking of : >making potpouri (sp) sashets made by myself >buying a plant and making a bunch of little plants out of it to give

but this would be too time consuming i think, plus i don’t have the best green thumb..i killed a cactus once…believe it or not..lol >giving fall flower bulbs, but not everyone has a house or garden to plant them.. >plaster ornaments made by myself from a mold. >a little candle with ribbon or something

i can’t think of anything else, i don’t have ALOT of money to spend on something someone will stuff in a drawer not to be seen again what did all of you use, or plan on using? feed back would be GREATLY appreciated if you could also reply to my email address when you reply to the thread that would be great too… thank sooo much, elizabeth August 11/01 is the date of the wedding

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>i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours.

I think the whole idea of wedding favors is silly.  I’ve never been to a wedding where favors were given out.  I never even knew people did this until I started reading this newsgroup! Save yourself the time & money by ditching the favor idea.  The junk will end up in the garbage within a week. Rubble, Rubble ~~the hamburgerlar

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>i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours. >i was thinking of : [snip] >i can’t think of anything else, i don’t have ALOT of money to spend on >something someone will stuff in a drawer not to be seen again

           Well, this is a good an argument as any for not doing favors, period.  :)   If you don’t have a whole lot of money to spend on them and you are having a hard time finding ideas that will appeal to all your guests, save yourself the trouble.  Chances are no one will notice the lack of favors, and some might even appreciate not having to carry stuff home to clutter up their drawers.  ;) Ariane

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Its a personal thing really.  If your guests are not going to care why bother. Some of us though have guests who appreciate the time and trouble, not to mention the talent that we do that which we do.  I know in my family they can hardly wait to see what I am going to come up with next.  I have done the favors for many occasions.  Most recently my sister’s baby shower.   Pick something that will not get thrown in a drawer.  When in doubt DO CHOCOLATE!!!!

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It’s probably a good idea to have something edible… At the end of the evening, guests are usually too tired, too drunk or just not bothered to pick up favours. In Europe, we always have something to eat: individual chocolates, but mostly sugared almonds (wrapped in tulle). You are supposed to have five per person, each one representing a wish for the couple: happiness, health, fertility, wealth and longevity. Or else, why not take a bit of time to make individual biscuits:  you cut them  up in the shape of a heart, wedding rings or even three-tiered cakes, and then ice with your theme colour before wrapping them in individual see-through little bags? It’s fun and cheap, you can even get help from children… Good luck Sara

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Hi, I am thinking along the same lines as you. As I plan to have a herby theme to our wedding, I think I’ll make small muslin lavender bags with the date of our wedding embroidered on each one. Our wedding is the day before yours! I love reading this newsgroup because it makes me so excited!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours. > i was thinking of : >making potpouri (sp) sashets made by myself >buying a plant and making a bunch of little plants out of it to give > but this would be too time consuming i think, plus i don’t have the best > green thumb..i killed a cactus once…believe it or not..lol >giving fall flower bulbs, but not everyone has a house or garden to > plant them.. >plaster ornaments made by myself from a mold. >a little candle with ribbon or something > i can’t think of anything else, i don’t have ALOT of money to spend on > something someone will stuff in a drawer not to be seen again > what did all of you use, or plan on using? > feed back would be GREATLY appreciated > if you could also reply to my email address when you reply to the thread > that would be great too… > thank sooo much, > elizabeth > August 11/01 is the date of the wedding

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I was thinking of chocolate placecards. That way they are place cards as well as favours

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours. > i was thinking of : >making potpouri (sp) sashets made by myself >buying a plant and making a bunch of little plants out of it to give > but this would be too time consuming i think, plus i don’t have the best > green thumb..i killed a cactus once…believe it or not..lol >giving fall flower bulbs, but not everyone has a house or garden to > plant them.. >plaster ornaments made by myself from a mold. >a little candle with ribbon or something > i can’t think of anything else, i don’t have ALOT of money to spend on > something someone will stuff in a drawer not to be seen again > what did all of you use, or plan on using? > feed back would be GREATLY appreciated > if you could also reply to my email address when you reply to the thread > that would be great too… > thank sooo much, > elizabeth > August 11/01 is the date of the wedding

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Has anyone actuall done the chocolate palcecards.  I wanted to know how they were received and if they were a pain to make.

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I make chocolate boxes and cards all the time for friends weddings. It’s so easy!! If you buy chocolate buttons (Merkers are the best quality) and melt them in the microwave (1 minute…stir stir stir…then 30 second intervals and stir until it’s melted…chocolate BURNS and you have to toss the whole batch if you overdo it) The molds for the placecards are about $3.95 each and I’d suggest getting 3 so the job goes faster. It should cost your about $25.00 for enough chocolate for 100 placecards. (don’t buy deep molds..they eat up too much chocolate and the cost goes up) I write on the card with melted chocolate in the color the couple chooses. (just melt and place it in a piping bag to write the names)You can just wipe your mistakes away…I like that. I recently made chocolate dipped strawberries for a friends shower (the secret is to have the berries perfectly dry when you dip them) I dipped some in dark chocolate and some in milk then piped the initials on in white chocolate. It cost me under $20.00 to do 120 berries and the ooooh aaahhh factor is so high. Brenna (who should start charging for makin’ chocolate favors) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Has anyone actuall done the chocolate palcecards.  I wanted to know how they > were received and if they were a pain to make.

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>i’m looking for some ideas for wedding favours.

Why? They are VULGAR! Ron Ng Knows!

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I’m agreeing with Ron on this one! I find the "guest favor" practice strangely disturbing. I’ve never understood why one would provide small gifts for guests at your wedding. When you invite people over for a party at your home, do you provide them with token gifts there as well? I’ve never attended a wedding where favours were given out – and I’ve attended numerous weddings, ranging from informal outdoor affairs to full formal extravaganzas. We will not be having guest favours at our reception. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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> I’m agreeing with Ron on this one! I find the "guest favor" > practice strangely disturbing. > I’ve never understood why one would provide small gifts for > guests at your wedding. When you invite people over for a party > at your home, do you provide them with token gifts there as > well?

Actually, favors are a largely regional/cultural habit. Apparently in New Zealand and/or Australia, they have a traditional favor of a popper — a little toy wrapped gizmo that gets pulled apart by people at opposite sides of the table (taking turns to open each others’) with little hats and games in them.  Birthday parties often have little favors (does anyone else remember little plastic sliding square letter/number games?), especially for kids.  And many weddings offer matchbooks with the HC names, or a little box of chocolates, or whatever. > I’ve never attended a wedding where favours were given out – and > I’ve attended numerous weddings, ranging from informal outdoor > affairs to full formal extravaganzas. We will not be having > guest favours at our reception.

Again, hey, it’s a regional/cultural thing. If you don’t want to do it, they’re certainly not required or anything — and a bonus is that they dont’ take a bite out of your budget.

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I have heard of poppers, but mainly in England and the British Isles. I’ve only seen them used as favours for Christmas parties. I think they usually contain a fortune, a small party hat and a tiny "prize" or candy of some sort. I think they’re very cute! I see these in some stores in this area for around $10-$15 a box at Christmastime. Children’s birthday parties do offer favours… but then, they are just that – children’s parties. (Ahh the fond memories of those plastic sliding letter games…) * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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>Actually, favors are a largely regional/cultural habit. >Apparently in New Zealand and/or Australia, they have a traditional favor of a >popper — a little toy wrapped gizmo that gets pulled apart by people at >opposite sides of the table (taking turns to open each others’) with little >hats and games in them.  

Only at Christmas!  They’re Christmas crackers and they’re associated with the holiday, not with parties.  Don’t expect one if you happen to go to any old party in NZ or Australia.   Otherwise I’ve never encountered a favour tradition except at children’s birthday parties.  The bridal magazines are definitely trying to establish one though. T.J. — http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tajwileb/ The right half of the brain controls the left half of the body. This means that only left handed people are in their right mind.

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>Otherwise I’ve never encountered a favour tradition except at >children’s birthday parties.  The bridal magazines are definitely >trying to establish one though.

I’ve seen little bonbonnieres of sugared almonds given out when I went to a French wedding. I got the impression it was a continental sort of custom. j.

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>(random snippage) > Otherwise I’ve never encountered a favour tradition except at > children’s birthday parties.  The bridal magazines are definitely > trying to establish one though.

Of course!  If they convince 50% of the brides they MUST have favors, just think how many favor-producing companies will advertise in the magazine!   Advertising revenues are what it’s all about. gloria p (who is feeling even more cynical than usual today)

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Tamara….I lost my engagement ring too.  I consulted a hypnotist who helped me retrace my steps and I found my ring.  As it turns out, I had a dream the night before that I was being commited to an insane asylum.  I hid the ring between my matress and boxspring in my sleep to "protect" it from unscrupulos employees at the asylum.  I hadn’t remembered this dream until the hypnotist walked me thru the whole thing.  I went home and found my ring, just where I had put it. SO, my advice to you is to consult a hypnotist to see if they can help you remember where you put it. Mary

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>Tamara….I lost my engagement ring too.  I consulted a hypnotist >who helped me retrace my steps and I found my ring.  As it turns >out, I had a dream the night before that I was being commited >to an insane asylum.  I hid the ring between my matress and >boxspring in my sleep to "protect" it from unscrupulos >employees at the asylum.  I hadn’t remembered this dream until >the hypnotist walked me thru the whole thing.  I went home >and found my ring, just where I had put it. >SO, my advice to you is to consult a hypnotist to see if they >can help you remember where you put it. >Mary

ACK! I wasn’t the one that lost the ring…please don’t scare my fiance! <laughing> I think that was Tara. Tamara …the ring is safe and sound and smiling at me now.

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        One very good reason to get a separate rider on your insurance to cover things like engagement rings!  Mine is covered against loss, theft, you-name-it (for around $60/year). Ericka

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>>Yes folks, I have committed the worst of all crimes… >I have lost my engagement ring that my fiancee struggled so hard >to buy for me. >If you are really sure that it is in your apartment, I suggest you throw >a "let’s find my diamond" party >–Nancy

Good idea! >I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. And to those >guys out there, can you tell me what you would do in this situation

I bought my girlfriend a (inexpensive) ring sometime ago… She lost it in less than 1 day!  :) I’ve just bought the engagement ring, but haven’t given it to her (so don’t tell!). I guess this time I will use SUPER GLUE to avoid any problem.  :) >And if anyone knows a good phycic i’d appreciate that also. >  Tara and Bill   Aug 13, 94

It is behind the old table in the living room!   Hope you can find it!   Ed

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<responding to Tara. . .> >My husband has lost his wedding ring twice.  No, three times.  One >hiking in the desert, once gardening, and once in a storm gutter. >Same ring.  We found it all 3 times.  How?  We rented a metal detector >from a local rock-hound shop.  They’re easy to use and cheap.

This reminds me of the time a buddy in choir got asked why he didn’t wear a wedding ring, even though he was happily married. Turned out he had lost it in the washing machine. . . Pixie

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>Yes folks I have committed the worst of all marriage crimes.  I have lost my en >gagement ring that my fiancee struggled so hard to buy for me.  He had just gra >duated college and really didn’t need another crdit bill but the great no, >GREAT guy that he is went out (on his own no less) and bought me a .89 heart >shaped perfect diamond.  I lost it. I lost it in our apartment and have hopeles >sly ben looking for it to no avail.  I was wondering if this has happened to >anyone else. And to those guys out there, can you tell me whatyou would do in >this situation, he knows and all but the guilt is driveing me crazy!! >And if anyone knows a good phycic i’d appreciate that also. >             Tara ANd Bill   AUG 13, 94 >                "nothing is ready and my parents are dragging theis collective >                    ass."

If you are really sure that it is in your apartment, I suggest you throw a "let’s find my diamond" party and invite your most trusted friends and have them help you look.  Right before I went to Europe, I was foolishly playing with my opal and diamond ring–a family heirloom.  It went flying into what I thought was an area about 6 feet square.  I searched like crazy, but couldn’t find it.  Since I knew that my brothers would be home while I was gone, I left a note about the missing ring, hoping someone would look for it.  During one of their parties, someone found it, though I never did know who. Obviously, if and when you find it, get it insured! Good luck! –Nancy Reynolds

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|> Yes folks I have committed the worst of all marriage crimes.  I have lost my en |> gagement ring that my fiancee struggled so hard to buy for me.  He had just gra |> duated college and really didn’t need another crdit bill but the great no, |> GREAT guy that he is went out (on his own no less) and bought me a .89 heart |> shaped perfect diamond.  I lost it. I lost it in our apartment and have hopeles |> sly ben looking for it to no avail.  I was wondering if this has happened to |> anyone else. And to those guys out there, can you tell me whatyou would do in |> this situation, he knows and all but the guilt is driveing me crazy!! |> And if anyone knows a good phycic i’d appreciate that also.   If you’re really sure you lost it in the apt., try to calm down and keep looking.  Take Michal’s suggestion about renting a metal detector.  Look in weird places.  My aunt lost her ring (after about 15 years of marriage) and it turned up weeks later in the cuff of a pair of my uncle’s pants.  It had somehow come off when she was moving things around in the closet.   And once you find it, get it insured.  Then the only concern if it’s lost will be it’s sentimental value (admittedly not trivial), instead of that *plus* it’s monetary value.   Hang in there! |> |>              Tara ANd Bill   AUG 13, 94 |>                 "nothing is ready and my parents are dragging theis collective |>                     ass." — |    Cathy Moore     | These opinions are mine, not those of the University| |                    | that I should be learning German.  (The dissertation| |                    | has been FINISHED and DEFENDED!)                    |

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I lost it. I lost it in our apartment and have hopelessly been >looking for it to no avail.  I was wondering if this has happened to >anyone else. And to those guys out there, can you tell me whatyou would >do in this situation, he knows and all but the guilt is driveing me crazy!! >Tamara, >My husband has lost his wedding ring twice.  No, three times.  One >hiking in the desert, once gardening, and once in a storm gutter. >Same ring.  We found it all 3 times.  How?  We rented a metal detector >from a local rock-hound shop.  They’re easy to use and cheap. >If you’re sure it’s in your apartment, then it should be easy to find. >Just make sure no-one vacuumes until you’ve had a chance to get a >metal detector and search it out! >BTW, we had my husband’s ring re-sized so to fit more snuggly and >he hasn’t lost it since. >–  Michal

Eeek! What a horrible thing to happen! But it didn’t happen to me (scared me for a sec, though…I had to look at my hand twice). Sorry, I don’t mean to make light of a not-so-fun situation, Tara. I like the idea that Michal suggests of a metal detector, though. Tamara (& John) September 3, 1994

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Yes folks I have committed the worst of all marriage crimes.  I have lost my en gagement ring that my fiancee struggled so hard to buy for me.  He had just gra duated college and really didn’t need another crdit bill but the great no, GREAT guy that he is went out (on his own no less) and bought me a .89 heart shaped perfect diamond.  I lost it. I lost it in our apartment and have hopeles sly ben looking for it to no avail.  I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. And to those guys out there, can you tell me whatyou would do in this situation, he knows and all but the guilt is driveing me crazy!! And if anyone knows a good phycic i’d appreciate that also.              Tara ANd Bill   AUG 13, 94                 "nothing is ready and my parents are dragging theis collective                     ass."

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>I lost it. I lost it in our apartment and have hopelessly been >looking for it to no avail.  I was wondering if this has happened to >anyone else. And to those guys out there, can you tell me whatyou would >do in this situation, he knows and all but the guilt is driveing me crazy!!

Tamara, My husband has lost his wedding ring twice.  No, three times.  One hiking in the desert, once gardening, and once in a storm gutter. Same ring.  We found it all 3 times.  How?  We rented a metal detector from a local rock-hound shop.  They’re easy to use and cheap. If you’re sure it’s in your apartment, then it should be easy to find. Just make sure no-one vacuumes until you’ve had a chance to get a metal detector and search it out! BTW, we had my husband’s ring re-sized so to fit more snuggly and he hasn’t lost it since. —  Michal

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