Scrapbooks are a big deal. Hobby scrapbookers get seriously into their scrapbooks. But what if you, the soon-to-be blushing bride want to preserve your wedding planning and wedding day memories but know nothing about the art of scrapbooking? Why, check out the resources below, of course!

The Wedding Scrapbook Kit In A Stack features stickers and vellum combined with coordinating patterned paper and cardstock to help brides and grooms record the nuptial process.

If that all that sticking and cutting seems like a huge pain, Our Wedding Scrapbook lets happily engaged couples write their happy memories in pre-assigned sections. Easy peasy.

When only the best will do and price is no object, brides and grooms can indulge their desire to document their nuptials in this collection of four handmade Italian leather albums and scrapbooks.

But if you want something quirky and fun that your kids will someday think is super cool, consider Karin Sella Sloan’s Bride-to-Be and Me & My Honey scrapbook sets. (previously mentioned here) The latter comes in a pretty little blue suitcase!

Happy scrapbooking!

Ever since one of my dear readers mentioned the Mokume Gane metallurgy technique in a comment a few months back, I’ve been in love with the idea of Mokume Gane wedding bands. They look super cool, but unlike some of the other more unusual wedding bands out there, they are made out of gold, platinum, and silver, so EMTs will not have to take a blowtorch to your hand in the event of a finger-related emergency.

The distinctive woodgrain pattern in the Andrew Nyce rings above is the result of a technique perfected in 17th century Japan. First used by master katana makers, the Mokume Gane technique was picked up by jewelry-makers when the sword industry went bust in Japan’s Meiji era. Multiple sheets of metal are fused and cut from different angles to create layer patterns resembling clouds or wood.

TIP: Looking for engagement rings or wedding bands but not sure of your ring size? Order a free ring sizer from Blue Nile or print out a free paper ring sizer from Atlantis Rings.

The lovely Ladysun posed an interesting question a few days ago. She wrote,

What’s the deal with this whole engagement par-tay thing? My fiancé and I have to go to one in August and I totally don’t even know what engagement parties are all about, let alone what I should do or bring.

Well, traditionally, the engagement party allowed newly engaged couples to announced their pending nuptials to their family and close friends. It also served as a forum where future in-laws could size each other up meet each other for the first time. It was usually hosted by the bride’s family in their home and guests were not expected to bring gifts.

The good news is that these days, guests are still not expected to bring gifts. However, because social etiquette is a lot looser these days (at least in the U.S.), an invitation to an engagement party can imply almost anything. It may be in the engaged couple’s home, at a parent’s home, in a restaurant, at a skating rink, on the beach, or at an amusement park!

Manners demand that those invited to the engagement party also be invited to the wedding, though if the wedding will be a small, family-only affair, it’s alright to break this rule. While engagement parties are typically small affairs limited to loved ones, some people turn theirs into the party of the century. And more power to them, I say. If you’re throwing one, Wedding Occasions: 101 New Party Themes for Wedding Showers, Rehearsal Dinners, Engagement Parties, and More can help you personalize your party.

While guests are under no obligation to bring a gift, they may still choose to do so. In this case, the happy couple should refrain from opening their presents until after the party is over. A conscientious guest will call the person hosting the engagement party to ask what he or she can bring as engagement parties are frequently pot-luck. Remember, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of something nice and a heartfelt congratulatory toast.

EDIT: julie has correctly pointed out that the etiquette rules surrounding engagement parties can differ from region to region and culture to culture. When in doubt, call your host!

Image by DMM Photography

Nothing says ‘bride’ like a white mini dress. No, really, Pamela Anderson Lee Rock Ritchie, or whatever your name is now. If I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’. Your assertion that your recent pseudo-wedding to Kid Rock (St. Tropez’s mayor explained the illegality of it) was the best and most romantic wedding ever must be true.

I mean, just look at the happy couple. I think Kid even put on a clean white t-shirt for the occassion.

After the unofficial ceremony, Pamela swapped out her mini dress for a white string bikini and a pair of diamond-encrusted Jimmy Choos. In her blog, she wrote: “Now I’m definitely rocking the most…MRS ROCK…From Vegas to New York to St. Tropez. I was so happy to finally get here. But now I can’t wait to get away from these paparazzi – I swear they just wait for the ugliest pictures to take.”

All joking aside, I do wish the new “Mrs. Rock” all the best. I think Pamela Anderson is pretty cool, actually. She’s really forthright about articulating her beliefs. Sometimes, though, I wish she’d wear a few more articles of clothing. I mean, is she naked in this pic?

I think she’s naked.