Tips to make your marriage proposal memorable

a) Have a plan. A good plan will reduce the stress.

b) Decide if you want to pick out the ring together or will it be a surprise. Know your partner. Some people are very particular about the type, size, style of ring.

c) How much you are going to spend? After you purchase the ring how much is it going to cost to insure. If you buy an expensive ring most home insurance policies cover up to a certain amount.

d) Pick a jeweller with a great reputation. The ring is an expensive investment.

e) What, when, where and how. Think about what the other person likes and plan with the partner in mind.

f) Who do you want to be there? Maybe you want your friends in.

g) Do you want pictures of this special occasion? It is great to rely on friends and family to take pictures. But a professional photographer will know exactly what pictures to take.

h) Location,location,location. Pick a spot to pop the question that will work. Not all places will be good for this.

i) Have fun. Make it a day to remember for both of you.

PhotoBooth

In weddings there are souvenirs. You can buy a your local store (in bulk) or Make your own. Do whatever you like. Most of the souvenirs I know are figurines. But I know every coupe wants to be unique in giving these souvenirs. Most couple want to give out souvenirs which they know their guests will love. And I ask you, If you were a typical guests in a wedding, would you want a figurine?

Here’s a great idea for a souvenir: Pictures! Well not the boring type that you just print from your digicams. I’m talking about the one from a Photobooth. You can rent a photobooth for your wedding reception and let your guests enjoy taking pictures of themselves and maybe get 2 copies each. One for the couple and one for them to keep. You can also stick these pictures in a book and let them put a dedication. You can also check in your area if there are companies that provide these services especially for Wedding. There is one in my country called CliqueBooth where there is a small image of the couple to the side of the picture with baloon sayings “Thank you for coming” and “Hope you had a great time”.

What a cool unique wedding souvenir that everyone will surely love!

The 7 Common Causes of Infidelity

When you’ve been cheated on, your first question is “Why?” It’s the question that bounces around in your head long after the affair is over. No answer seems good enough.
Here are some common causes of infidelity. Which one of them fits your partner?

They feel pressured to keep up with the Joneses. Your partner might have been in a very bad situation, in which they were expected to do something they normally wouldn’t do. Peer pressure is a strong thing, no matter how old you are.

Your partner is angry with you. Maybe they are resentful of you for doing something they didn’t like, or they are unhappy with their life situation. Either way, they are taking it out on you by having an affair with someone else.

They are simply attracted to someone else and they want to act on it. Perhaps they thought you would never know, and what you don’t know won’t hurt you — right?

They feel trapped by their relationship and they want out. Or they want something on the side. Many people in a relationship will decide, at some point, they aren’t happy. But they don’t want to leave! They choose the solution that hurts the most in the long run, and they try to have the best of both worlds.

They want to fall in love again. For some people, that feeling of romance, and the rush of a new love, can be an addictive feeling. They want to recapture that feeling, and so they turn to someone new. A stranger, more than likely, someone they can get to know and eventually fall in love with.

They don’t feel desirable. They will reach out to someone else to make them feel that way. They think your desire for them is expected, even an obligation, because you are the one in the relationship with them. But if a total stranger wants them? Their ego, and their desirability, goes through the roof!

Your partner can’t stand being intimate with anyone. Intimacy doesn’t necessarily mean sex — it means an emotional connection. If your partner is afraid of intimacy, they might try to push you away by having sex with someone else. It’s their way of putting an emotional wall between the two of you.

These are just the basic reasons someone has an affair — the actual reasons are many, and can vary wildly from one situation to another. Once you know the answer to the “Why” you can begin focusing on another question: Can this relationship be saved?

Is Marriage Still “IN” in the 21st Century

“These days marriage seems more like dating with all the laws of annulment and even how easy it is to get a divorce. Today’s society does not take marriage as serious as our grandparents and great-grandparents did. As I look at older couples in our churches and communities their marriages last longer than our generation’s. Most of the time marriage is not even considered in relationships, and it is funny because even in the church you have people who do not desire marriage. Most young single women see the results of other married couples and say, ‘no way, I would rather be married to the Lord’. ”
-excerpts from “Let Not Man Put Asunder - Marriage is a Ministry”

Written by Regina Mincey

In the fast pace society we live in today, has the institution of marriage changed? Does the word “family” mean the same as it did thirty or forty years ago? US Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics show that children living in single-parent homes have increased from 9.4 % to almost 30% from 1960 to 2005. Sure times have changed and we have made tremendous improvements over the past couple of decades and overcome many obstacles that seemed unattainable back then, but has this shift caused us to lose our focus on family. We have entered into a new era where women are stepping up into the spot light and accomplishing as much as and some times even more than men. Has this caused women not to desire the once sought after “man of her dreams” or has the commitment level declined because of other reasons.

I have spoken with many married couples as well as singles and there is definitely a fear of commitment in the air. The results of “bad marriages” have plagued the 21st century and couples are now saying “we have a different type of marriage, a marriage that doesn’t involve a document declaring it”. Then there is the “common law marriage” where if you stay together for a certain amount of time than you are considered married. The problem with these different approaches to marriage is that they require no true commitment.

So is Marriage still “IN” in the 21st Century? Of course it is, Marriage was the first ministry instituted in the beginning by God and it will continue to over rule these alternatives to traditional marriage. God’s way of doing things will always prevail in every arena of life. Though some couples have chosen not to take advantage of the favor that marriage brings there is a remnant that still desires to take the next step in their relationship and obtain the favor given to them by God. All it takes is two people coming together uniting as one; willing to serve, respect, and love one another. It is still possible to be married for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, til death do you part!

Breaking in (and Walking in) Wedding Heels

We have all had the misfortune of buying a new pair of shoes, then, forgetting to break them in or practice walking in them before the event for which they were purchased. Don’t make that mistake with your wedding shoes. Blisters or a turned ankle on your wedding day are not fun. Follow these tips and you will float elegantly (and foot-pain free) through your wedding day.
A few hours’ wear around the house will certainly help, but most experts recommend a longer break-in period, especially if you are not accustomed to wearing the type of bridal heel you’ve chosen. Techniques that have helped others break in their high hells and become comfortable walking in them include:

* To prevent slipping on slick church or reception floors, scuff or put rough tape on the soles.
* Wear your shoes off and on around the house for three or four weeks. This will help break them in gradually.
* For an even better breaking in, start with wearing your wedding shoes an hour at a time while you complete light chores inside. (Avoid the outdoors; you don’t want to soil the shoes.) When the shoes are comfortable after an hour’s wear, begin keeping them on until they hurt. Gradually increase the time over a month until you can wear your bridal shoes for several hours with no blisters.

Practicing Moving and Walking

If you are uncomfortable with walking in heels, take this opportunity to practice while breaking in your shoes. Here are some tips for learning different maneuvers.

Skirting obstacles

Invariably, there will be a few surprises on your wedding day that will require a bit of quick-stepping: a child will fall in your way, or you will have to move around a mess or rain puddle, for example. Avoiding these obstacles will require stepping sideways, altering your stride, or even moving backwards without stumbling. Practice these moves at various speeds until you can confidently complete them in your heels. As an added bonus, if you plan to wear your high heels at the reception, these same motions will prepare you for the dance floor.

Turning

Because your back will be “on stage” facing your guests during the ceremony, you must be able to gracefully turn before walking back down the aisle after the finale - when your groom kisses you for the first time. Depending on your ceremony, you may not need to make a full 180-degree turn; but, by practicing a full turnaround, you will be prepared for all eventualities.

Imagine it is your wedding day and you are facing the person who is conducting the ceremony. First, pivot halfway around, so that both feet, as well as your body, are facing your new husband, and your weight is on the leg closest to the officiant. Complete the turn by stepping toward the aisle with the foot closest to your guests. At that point, you will be facing your guests and can safely continue walking back down the aisle. If you would like visual demonstrations, study fashion models as they turn at the end of runways. A search on YouTube or other video Websites will provide several examples.

Walking up and down stairs

Falling, as you walk up or down steps, can mean much more than an embarrassing moment. To avoid an unscheduled trip to the emergency room, get plenty of practice before your wedding day. When at all possible, hold on to a railing for added support and balance. Whether you are ascending and descending, be sure the entire sole and heel of your shoe are completely over the stair before placing your foot. As you go up the stairs, place your sole and heel on the stair at the same time. As you go down, focus on firmly placing your sole on each step.

If you follow the above tips for breaking in and walking in your bridal heels, your feet will thank you with a pain-free wedding day!

Bloke’s Marriage Guide - How to Be a Teddy Bear

I have it on good advice that us guys need to be a teddy bears in marriage. Whilst I’m no expert on the topic, I can note with due attention the nod of approval toward this idea from one’s wife. Cuddly and fluffy is the call. As an opposite image, there’s no surer thing than a bull roaring through the china shop, breaking all the precious fine china displayed — not a good image in a marriage.

Not every wife needs a teddy bear husband to be honest, but what a guy’s wife needs she should get — is that not so? It’s the Christian model of marriage we’re espousing; one for the other, the other for one. So, what gives with the teddy bear symbolism?

1. Teddy bears are quiet. They don’t talk much. They’re pretty docile and cute, so to speak. I think I can do that.

2. Teddy bears provide warmth and are ideal to cuddle up with, and even sob of few tears into (if and as necessary).

3. Teddy bears are totally accepting; they’ll never reject you. You’re theirs for life, and even when your bear is tired and ragged at the seams, he’ll still be just as faithful as he always was.

4. Teddy bears are fluffy too. The fluffiness is particularly important because fluffiness absorbs; it absorbs the hurts so naturally.

What teddy bears don’t do:

1. They don’t give advice; they’re totally useless at providing direction and telling you what you need to do. They can’t talk back; they don’t have a comment to make.

2. They won’t try and encourage you when a good ole fashioned cuddle would do.

3. They don’t scare you. They couldn’t harm a fly. They’d cuddle the fly! Absolutely harmless.

So, the teddy bear is a symbol for me; for the man I need to be. Let’s raise a toast to every living teddy bear who just happens to be married.

Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Butterfly Wedding, an Elegant and Unique Wedding Theme

A unique wedding theme, like a butterfly wedding, can be a lot of fun if you do it correctly. If overdone a theme like this can become almost tacky. But if done with a touch of elegance and subtlety, the butterfly wedding can be one that you and your guests will remember forever.
Here are a few tips and a few points to think about when considering this wedding theme.

The butterfly wedding absolutely can be done with elegance. How to stay away from straying to the tacky side? Keep everything low key. Just because it is a butterfly wedding does not mean that every detail about the wedding must be butterfly oriented. The key is to choose a few elements that are related to your favorite kind of butterfly, and simply match the colors and flowers to this theme. Maybe add a tasteful wedding favor with a butterfly theme, or simply have butterfly wedding invitations and programs. There are some great ideas for making your own handmade butterfly invitations at http://www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com .

Choosing the butterfly as your wedding theme creates a great opportunity for gorgeous wedding colors. There are many species of butterfly. Pick one that appeals most to you and run with it. Most butterflies have rich and luscious colors which are great for pairing with any wedding color scheme. The black found in most butterfly species’ wings will be represented in the groom and groomsmen tuxedos. The rest of the colors can be made up in flower arrangements or the bridesmaid’s dresses.

Another great way to pick your flower arrangements for a butterfly wedding is to choose arrangements of flowers that your butterflies are most attracted to. This could be anything from wild flowers indigenous to the area you live in, to flowers of certain colors.

Looking for a great location for your butterfly wedding? Why not go for the obvious and opt for holding your ceremony at a butterfly garden? That would certainly match the theme! Not to mention no need to provide your flower arrangements since you will be in a garden. All you’ll need is your bridal bouquet, corsages for the bridesmaids, and boutonnieres for the groomsmen. If you do not have a butterfly garden within reasonable distance, you can always go for the butterfly release. There are many online stores specializing in this service just for wedding ceremonies.

Whether you choose the butterfly garden, or the butterfly release, don’t overlook the great photo opportunities you will have with the butterfly wedding theme. Your wedding photographs are some of the most special photos will will ever cherish. Can you picture you wedding pictures complete with butterflies resting on your gorgeous wedding dress? That is almost fairytale!

However you choose to execute this unique wedding theme always remember to keep it simple and elegant and you cannot go wrong.

When Choosing Your Wedding Gown

There are thousands of wedding gown fashions to choose from. Brides can choose a wedding gown with traditional embellishments like the bell-shape skirt with lace and a train, or a modern form-fitting wedding gown made of satin and decorated with sequins. Whatever the bride may decide, she will eventually have to visit some type of wedding gown dealer.

Selecting Your Wedding Gown
When you visit the salon of your choice, make sure that you have a clear vision of your wedding’s theme. Do not hesitate to let the salon know what you have planned for a budget. Bring magazine clippings of wedding gowns you like, and see if they have those styles or something similar. Keep in mind that with most bridal salons, you get some consultation for free. Take advantage of the advice you receive. The consultant will be able to offer suggestions on fit and style based on your age and body type. A wedding gown may look wonderful in a magazine (and most do), but it may not look good on you. Your consultant will help you find the right gown at the right price. You should visit a bridal salon even if you do not plan on purchasing your wedding gown through one. The advice you receive will more than pay for your time.

The Wedding Gown Costs
Don’t purchase a wedding gown that is out of your price range. Bridal gowns can range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Take some time to think about your selection. It may help to sleep on the idea and make a commitment on a different day. Remember that bridal gowns come with many unforeseen expenses. Don’t spend all of your allotted money on the gown itself. Save a little for alterations and accessories. Plan to spend approximately 5.5% of your total wedding budget on your wedding gown and accessories.

Get Fitted For Your Wedding Gown
When you go to get fitted for your gown, make sure that you bring your mother or maid of honor with you. If neither of these people can be there, take a friend whose opinion you trust. If nothing else, this friend can provide some moral support if you are in doubt. You should plan on at least six months to decide on and fit your wedding gown. It will take at least three months for your order to be placed and your wedding gown to be made by the manufacturer. Then you can plan on three fittings. The first when your wedding gown arrives. The second to correct any mistakes, and the third to verify that everything is perfect. You should expect your wedding gown to be perfect. After all, you will only wear this wedding gown once. If you do not have six months, relax. You can still get everything done in time. It will just cost a little more to rush your order.

Your final fitting should take place a few weeks before your wedding. The last thing you should worry about on your wedding day is whether or not your gown fits. So make sure your wedding gown is ready early. Your salon should hold your gown until the week before your wedding. They are better equipped to store your wedding gown than you will be, and proper storage is essential to prevent your wedding gown from wrinkling.
It would be a good idea to bring your maid of honor to your fittings. She will be able to learn her responsibilities for the wedding day. Sometimes, small emergencies come up right before the wedding is about to begin. Your maid of honor should know your wedding gown, and she should also know how to perform small alterations in a pinch. If your mother would handle this situation better than your maid of honor, you might want her at the fittings as well.

Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress

The pre-wedding task most Brides look forward to is choosing a Dress. You may have fantasized about the creation from the moment he popped the question, but the chances are you probably haven’t yet considered the practicalities of actually finding your Dream Dress.

So, whether you have a clear idea, or your spoilt for choice and don’t know where to start, get loads of inspiration from Wedding Magazine fashion pages and use this guide to ensure that what should be lots of fun, is lots of fun.

Spend a day shopping for ideas, set a budget and then make sure you stick to it.

Allow plenty of time to find your Dream Dress - it may take you a while and most shops expect you to order at least three to four months before your big day.

Try on as many styles as you can. Lots of dresses have zero hanger appeal, but look great once you put them on.

It’s a good idea to start out with a general idea of the kind of dress you like: traditional, straight, empire line, princess line, etc.

Remember to look at your rear view! Your Guests will have an uninterrupted view during the ceremony, so it’s got to look good.

Think about whether you want a theme to your wedding (color, period, style) as this will make your choice of dress easier.

Be practical - a huge skirt will be hard to maneuver in a tiny Church.

Consider the season of your wedding. Late Spring or Summer Ceremonies call for cool silk, chiffon, pure cotton or lace. Late autumn and winter weddings demand warm, heavier fabrics such as brocade, velvet and duchess satin.

Don’t dismiss man-made fabrics - a good quality dress is a cost-effective option which travels well (synthetic fabrics crush less) - important if you’ve a long trip to the ceremony or are getting married abroad.

Generally, a pure white dress looks better on brunettes, while ivory and cream flatters the traditional English Rose.

If your budget is limited consider hiring you dress. You can pay about the same to hire a designer dress as you would to buy a mass-produced frock.

You could recoup some of the cost of a designer dress by selling it after the wedding (if you can bear to part with it). There are several agencies and exchanges that will help but your gown must be in pristine condition.

Make the most of your natural assets. Tall, slender brides look stunning in long, lean silhouettes, while shorter brides should avoid full skirts and trains, opting for smaller details and trims. A V-shaped waist makes you look taller, you can emphasize a neat waist with a sash, show off good legs with a short skirt, hide plump arms under long sleeves and bony shoulders under high necks. Finally, bustles are a definite no-no for the pear shaped!

Always take at least one other person with you (two is best) when shopping for your dress, so that you know what your wedding finery looks like from every angle.

Ask to try on a veil with the dress so you can get an idea of the complete look - a short veil may well turn a dress from ordinary to special, while a long veil might not work at all.

Choose your Bridesmaids’ outfits to match detail or color on your dress. And if you have a theme, make sure you tie in with your maids.

Think about the style of your shoes: whether or not you want a heel may affect the whole look of your dress.

Consider any other accessories that you may need to set off your wedding dress - jewelry, gloves, bags, scarves etc. will all add finishing touches and complete your look, but will they bust your budget?

After the wedding, preserve your dress by having it expertly cleaned and boxed.

Tips to Make Your Wedding Meal a Success

The lights are lit, the guests are assembled, the minister is ready - but something is missing: food! Starving to death was not on your guests’ agenda when they came to your wedding - in fact, they expect to eat to a once the vows are exchanged and the “I Do’s” are said. Here are some wedding reception food ideas you can use to keep your guests full and satisfied.

If you already have some wedding reception food ideas in mind, you must first make sure that they suit the theme of your wedding. If you’re arranging a theme wedding reception in your backyard and want to convince your guests they’re in Hawaii, then serving Italian cuisine might not be the best idea. Instead, consider some traditional luau meals, such as lomi salmon, poi, and beer.

Any wedding reception food ideas you may have should also reflect the time of the event. For example, if you’re getting married early morning with the reception shortly afterwards, you can save a lot of money and effort by serving traditional morning snacks such as pancakes, fresh fruits and pastries. An evening reception gives you the most freedom in choosing what to serve - unfortunately, it also usually leaves a gaping hole in your budget since evening meals are usually more expensive that other meals. You also need to decide on the form of food delivery - for example, will the food be served to the guests or will they walk to buffet tables and get it themselves?

One of the most popular wedding reception food ideas is to have the reception in the afternoon. This allows you to serve traditional, simple lunch dishes such as sandwiches and pasta. This is a low-cost approach, which is why it’s so popular among the more budget-conscientious couples.

Always remember that your wedding reception food ideas should also allow for different dietary requirements of your guests. Some will eat meat, while others are strictly vegetarian and yet others are lactose-intolerant. Be sure to make special arrangements with your catering service provider to include a variety of choices to suit your guests’ dietary needs. Remember, your vegetarian guests will not appreciate meals that mostly consist of meat!

Next Page »