It's Wedding Season!

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white, or pink, or maybe even red or yellow! Spring has sprung! And that means the beginning of wedding season and all that comes with it. You’ve finally received your invite; besides feeling oh so special for making the cut, what now?!

Not everyone is familiar with the do’s and don’ts of wedding etiquette so Friends and Family Circle wants to give you a few pointers. Grab a pen and pad! We’ll be covering when you should and shouldn't bring a date, engagement party gift-giving, and actual wedding appropriateness! Let’s get started!

GIFTS FOR ENGAGEMENT PARTIES
Do you or do you not bring a gift to the engagement party? Hmmm. Well the answer to this depends on a couple of things including how close you are to the couple and your budget. As far as engagement party “etiquette” goes, a gift isn’t expected. This is the first of many gift-giving opportunities to follow. However, if you’re, say, the aunt of the bride, giving a simple gift like a bottle of wine to celebrate the occasion is fine. Nothing too over-the-top!


BRINGING A DATE TO THE WEDDING
Make sure to check the invitation! Was it addressed to ‘G. Whiz and Guest’? If so, you’re in the clear for bringing someone with you. Just know that it’s not an obligation! The last thing the happy couple wants is uninvited guests. More than likely, they’re paying by the head, so if you do decide to have someone tag along, RSVP accordingly. As for whom you should bring, make sure it’s someone who’s in good graces with the bridal party, of course. Someone who had a falling out with the groom just months ago would not be the best candidate. It may be water under the bridge for them, but don’t take any chances!


WEDDING ETIQUETTE BASICS

• Répondez s’il vous plait! That’s fancy (or French) for “please respond”. This is probably one of the most important things you MUST do. Whether you are able, or unfortunately unable to attend to the union, let your hosts know.
• Read the invitation! We know you’re excited and all but there is very important information on your invite. This includes the date, time, location, whether you were invited with a guest, if the event is kid-friendly, your deadline for confirming/declining your attendance and possibly much more. Your hosts have enough on their plate so try to avoid calling them to ask questions that may already be answered on your invite.
• Give a little!  Whether you are able to attend or not, send a gift! How much should you spend? There’s no set rule, but in general, the closer you are to the couple, the more you should probably spend. Also, if at all possible, send your gift to the couple BEFORE or AFTER the event. It’s difficult for family members to transport all of their gifts after the wedding.
• HAVE FUN… but not too much! Remember to be respectful. It’s not about you; it’s about the bride and groom, so act accordingly.

Answers to the Burning Questions: Is This Week's Deal Too Delicious to be True...

So we normally don't dedicate any of our blogs to our weekly deals, but with so many questions and forums that are coming up regarding this week's incredible $8 for $100 Restaurant.com eGift Card, we thought it's be a good idea to clarify some points so no one misses out!  We promise not to make this a habit!

Q: Why does the Value say $40 but it is for a $100 eGift Card, is this a mistake?

A: This is actually quite confusing.  You are purchasing a $100 Restaurant.com eGift Card but these are normally sold by the business for $40.  So even though they get you $100 worth of food at various local eateries (18,000 nationwide to be exact), the normal cost to purchase is usually only $40.  Our deal gets you it for $8 though so that's a 80% savings!!  Savvy shopper...savvy diner....

Q: So I take in my Friends and Family Voucher to any of the restaurants I want to eat at?  

A:  No, you actually need to redeem your Restaurant.com eGift Card at Restaurant.com!  You'll choose REDEEM GIFT (it's the 4th tab at the top) and you'll be prompted to enter your eGift Card number which is found next to the words REDEMPTION CODE on your Friends and Family Circle voucher.  Once you redeem you'll search for restaurants in a specific area - near your home, office, maybe you're going on vacation and want to look there - it's up to you, enter a zipcode or City/State and Restaurant.com will pull up the participating locations near your destination of choice!

Q: Do I have to use it all at once?  

A: No, that's what is so great!  You can choose to buy a full $100 dining certificate to your favorite restaurant, or you may want to try a few places and decide to purchase just a $25 dining certificate.  Come back and use the rest later!  Maybe you've got a birthday party you need to grab pizza for next month - your certificate will still be valid so save it, divide it up, use it all at once!  It's up to you!!

Q: I see a lot of deals from Restaurant.com, why would I buy from Friends and Family Circle and not just directly from them?

A: Because you can't get this deal directly from them!  This is the best deal out there for Restaurant.com dining certificates!  So while you will find Restaurant.com running other promotions on their eGift Cards, you'll never find one like this!  And let's be honest, this is a BIG savings!  Since they don't expire for a year, I stocked up!  There is no limit to the number you can buy, so while you can only use one dining certificate at a time, a year is a long time with lots of dining out excursions so... Be smart, buy several and eat for less for the next 365 days!

Still have questions?  Contact out Customer support hotline at 1-866-316-3001 or via email at help@friendsandfamilycircle.com. 

Worst Red Carpet Looks!

The best part of awards show for us is the Red Carpet! Who’s wearing what and paired up with who? We’re ready to dish on what caught our eye, and what made us want to gouge them out! Time to play Joan Rivers (who could use a little fashion policing herself, but we digress) and list our worst dressed of the awards season so far!

We’re all for being “eclectic” and standing out… but this is out of control!

Helena Bonham Carter - Golden Globes '11

Sometimes you want to play it safe, but Jenna didn't get the memo.  We're not at 'the office'.  Turn your fancy up, and let your hair (and neckline) down!

Jenna Fischer - SAG Awards '11

Very Victorian.  But it looks like Flo borrowed this from her high school's costume department!

Florence Welch - Academy Awards '11

Extra short and extra tight.
For the club, this may have been alright.

Business on top, a party on the bottom.  He's living la vida loca!

Ricky Martin - Grammy Awards '11

Have you come across any fashion faux-pas on the red carpet? Let us know!

Tracking The Trend: Stripes Are In For Spring!

Year in and year out, we see a resurgence of this trend: STRIPES! They're classic, clean and they're bound to be everywhere this Spring and Summer so get ready to rock them!  But not before we lay down some ground rules.

The "sailor" look is always cute!  They give a nautical feel, reminiscent of resort wear. Show off your sailor stripes with plain shorts or a skirt!









Some of us would like a little help in the height department.  Vertically striped dresses or skirts can make you look taller.  Pair that with with a solid-colored blazer and it makes for a very stylish outfit!

 

 What else should you know?

• If you want to wear a belt over your stripes, make sure it's wider than the stripes.
• Do not try to go for a head-to-toe striped look.  That could end up being a head-to-toe disaster!
• If you're new to the trend, start with pinstripes, then work your way up! Wider stripes make for a bolder look! 
• Have fun and go beyond just tops and bottoms - try striped summer hats, striped wedge heels and even striped jewelry... just not all at the same time!

Sticking To Your Resolutions!

Time sure flies doesn't it?!  Just the other day you were wrapping gifts for the holidays; now, the snow is clearing up and the sun has been staying out a little longer with each passing day.  But let's not forget those plans we made just a couple of months ago.  You know, that long list of New Year's resolutions you promised you'd stick to this time around?  Some of us have managed to follow through so far. I myself have been Latte-free since January 1st, and it feels pretty good to have followed through with it!  Other resolutions, like my drink less, workout more, haven't been so easy to stick to.  So, like many of you, I have some catching up to do to get back on track! 

Here are a few ways to make sure we all keep our eyes on the prize!

Write It Down
Get a journal so you can record your successes.  When you need a little extra motivation, you can refer back to your entries to see how you felt about them!

Be Specific
We were are a bit vague when we made our resolutions the first time around.  This makes it easier for us to go around them.  Instead of saying, "I plan to work out more",  say "I plan to work out for 30-45 minutes every morning".

Reward Yourself

Are you setting short term goals for yourself?  If you plan ahead, you have milestones to look forward to.  But remember, don't reward yourself with something counterproductive.  For example, don't splurge on an expensive pair of shoes as a reward for paying off a credit card bill on time. 

You Can Do It! 
Keep the fact that you didn't follow through the first time around behind you!  It's a new day, and this time you WILL be consistent. Keep a positive attitude and you will be well on your way to achieving whatever goal you have put in front of you!  And we all slip up every now and again, if you fall off once or twice, don't concentrate on the negative, brush it off and just get right back at it!