celebrity weddings and destinations

when we are all too focussed in choosing the spot where we will spend our days after the wedding, we may be guided by the celebrities’ top exotic wedding destinations in selecting the best place to go :
1. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner – Turks and Caicos
2. Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger – Island of St. John
3. Heidi Klum and Seal – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
4. Rachel Ray – Montalcino, Italy
5. Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese – Ireland
6. Jason Priestly – Bahamas
7. Alicia Silverstone - Lake Tahoe
8. Djibril Cisse (soccer star) – Wales
9. Sophie Ellis Bextor (British pop star) – Umbria
10. Diane Neal – Dominican Republic

A Wedding Against All Odds

Everything was perfectly planned. A beautiful entourage, their designer dresses and barongs perfectly fitted. The wedding giveaways of white wines for the primary sponsors, red wines for the secondary sponsors and unique mugs for other guests are all prepared. Sumptuous meal for the reception. The romantic old church was beautifully adorned with white laces and flowers. The bride was flawless.

But it seems that nature is against the wedding. It was signal number three of Typhoon Frank, and the wedding’s setting was a direct hit. Electricity was cut - the CD’s for the wedding songs were all stuck inside the player; no air conditioner nor fans to cool them all down (the place was hot despite the storm); the had to make do with what little light that nature can give, in preparing their make-ups, etc. At least the church had an electric generator, for the ceremony itself. There was no water (the rain does not count) - they had to fetch water from the water pump, so they can take a bath. Storm water was leaking through the church roofs!

Against all these odds, the wedding pushed through. At the end of the procession, in came the beautiful bride through the gigantic church door, bubbles blown from the sides. She marched through the lovely music. Everything seems to be getting perfect in the middle of the bridal march when……. someone stepped on the bride’s very long head dress, it was almost pulled off her head. Geeze, what else could go wrong! Still the bride went on with a smile.

The rites was carried on through all the unforeseen imperfections. The bride and the groom gave their marriage vows. They now share a lifetime together. Hopefully, the bad luck which seemed to come with the storm, has ended with typhoon Frank.

romantic marriage proposals

1)My fiancé surprised me at lunch! He had been talking about going out to a really fancy restaurant that night for dinner, so I thought that he would do it then. On his way to work, he passes by mine, so that day he asked if we could have lunch together. He had me pick the place. I picked a random Asian restaurant where we had never been.

I left my seat to order the food, and when I came back, the ring box was sitting in front of my seat. I was shocked! It was a nice surprise though. He knew that I did not care about anything, and that I just wanted to be surprised, so his friends told him that I wouldn’t expect it during a work lunch. They were right!

-Natalie

2)My fiancé proposed to me on the radio. He arranged an interview on the radio for me and him and while I was on the phone in another country (Canada) and he was here (Pennsylvania), we went through the entire interview…on Valentine’s Day ‘96…and at the end of the interview, he said, “Will you marry me, I want to spend forever with you”. I said “Um, oh my god, yes, yes, yes…” He even videotaped it for me since I wasn’t in the room.

He is the best. He sent me flowers the next day.

-J. N., Canada

3)The night Rob proposed was absolutely perfect. We had a romantic dinner at a favorite restaurant, Mom Chaffee’s. We had been planning dinner it so it didn’t seem out of the ordinary.

I was diverted to the Reading Sheraton to seemingly pick up a friend of Rob’s, who was in town (he wasn’t really). We went up to ‘his’ room, which was in the tower penthouse suite in the front of the hotel. The room had a breathtaking view over looking the city.

When we entered the room it was like walking into a magical fairy tale. The room was lit by candlelight and covered in rose petals. There were roses, champagne, wine, chocolate covered strawberries, and a beautiful view of the city lights. Our song, Valentine by Martina McBride, was playing softly in the background.
Rob then asked me to dance. He guided me to the window, and then asked me, on bended knee, to spend my life with him and for my hand in marriage. I said Yes!
We danced, kissed, laughed, and cried. We visited my parents, his parents, called family and then visited with some special friends. It was truly a magical night.

-B. F., Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

4)That day my fiancé decided to go to the museum. I found that weird usually he never wants to do things like that. So we got to the museum and we were looking at the things and so I see a shining object in a box so I went over to see, and in the glass box there was a little box just sitting there with a diamond ring and a piece of paper saying “I will love you forever if you just say yes. Taylor will you marry me?”

I was so surprised I did not know what to say but my heart did everybody around us where staring so I with a great big smile whispered in his ear, “Of course I’ll marry you!!!”

-T. H. Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Common Wedding Gifts on a Budget

I’m sure that most of us had attend a wedding ceremony so I guess most of us had bought wedding gifts as well.

When we are invited into a wedding we always think of what good present to give the newly wed couples. Although we want to give them the best possible gifts that is available we are being restrticted by our budget. I had noticed that there are very common wedding gifts that were being given to newly wed couples specially when you are in tight budget.

The blanket was never missed in the list of this common gifts. Actually sometimes the couple did not just get one but more blankets. Another was a dinner set like plates, glass and even kitchen utensils. Some also gave photo album or picture frames. These were coomn due to their low prices.

I don’t oppose to those who give those kind of gifts, infact I even appreciated thier efforts in looking and giving for the couples. Atleast they did not forget the couples unlike those who just attend the wedding.

A Very International Proposal

An interesting “proposal” here, a hilarious twist on the fairly-common proposal in a nice restaurant:

Don Fransisco came around and asked us how we’d met each other, where we were from, and what we were doing in Beijing, and so forth. He spoke to Hugo in Spanish, but to the rest of us in English, and then turned to camera to repeat our answers in Spanish. Don Fransisco asked what Stick and I did in China, and then asked “Are you married, or a couple in the modern way?”

“The modern way.” Stick said.

“Yeah, I’m still waiting!” I said, pointing to my ringless finger.

“Still waiting? Get up!” Don Fransisco made Stick get up, and come around to my side of the table, and get down on his knee. There we were, surrounded by the Unavicion crew in a peking duck restaurant, with Stick on one knee saying all the words a girl wants to hear, and then waiting for them to be translated into Spanish!

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!

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