Think in terms of other stuff you find cool. If Fight Club is your favorite movie, then add that to your list. If Salems Lot is your favorite novel, then add that too. If Bob Dylan’s Oh Mercy is your favorite album, list that. If you think these are all cool, then the people who matter to you will likely agree.

Now that you have that list, think of how they could become screen names. Maybe “FightClub” is available as a screen name. If it’s not, then maybe “TylerDurden” is available. (He’s one of the main characters.) “SalemsLot” might not be a cool screen name, but “MisterStraker” is a very cool handle indeed. And people who have read the novel will “get it.”

One other aspect of picking a cool handle to use online is avoiding really lame screen names. Dungeons & Dragons or Tolkien related names are almost never cool. In fact, I’d rather not be a member of a forum than be a member named “FrodoBaggins” or “Gandalf.” And usually, if someone else has been using that screenname, it’s not cool either.

Having an online identity is fun. Being “cool” online is something some people could never pull off in real life. I hope these few tips help you be cooler on the Internet.

If you are one of the lucky couples who are planning to hold your nuptials in a castle, then your first step needs to be hiring a seasoned wedding planner. He or she will have the knowledge and expertise required to plan every detail, from the castle to the center pieces. It is a good idea to start looking for your perfect wedding castle at least six months before you say “I do”, and once you find it, book it immediately. Remember that these period wedding can be romantic and exciting, but very time consuming. Make sure that you have the resources and support to make your dream wedding possible.

Now that your wedding castle has been secured, take this time to plan how far you want to take the Renaissance theme. Many couples choose to simply dress themselves and their wedding party in medieval garb. Others take it to the next level, and hire actors, florists, and musicians to transform a 21st century wedding into a 12th century event.

First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.

Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests and, of course, your husband-to-be.

By now, you’ve likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.

Here are some general guidelines:

In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.

In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.

In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color short or long or even a suit.

What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you’ve always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!

As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.

For specifics on what’s appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don’ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.

How can you purchase wedding dresses online?

The Internet can be a tremendous help when you’re looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let’s face it most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.

After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you:

• Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.
• Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.
• Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you’re uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.
• Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!
• Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.

When you’ve gone through all these steps, you’re certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you — and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.

Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.

Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.

http://MarriedBliss.com — Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!