In the Middle Ages, for example, the brides had rainbow dresses, in various shades of yellow, orange and red. In those days marriages were more about alliances between families, businesses or countries. Therefore, brides were expected to dress to their social status, mandatorily with a new dress. Women from rich families were used to wear a very bold, fashioned and colorful dress for their wedding. If furs were for the rich brides, the Sunday best dress, or church dress was the middle age’s gown for the poor brides.

The first white bridal dress was princess Philippa of England’s dress, in 1406. By the 1500′s, blue was the dominant color, the neck was completely covered and ornaments were very rare. By 1600, it was red wedding dress time. In the 1700′s, purple tones of pink and crinolines or corsets in pale pastel shades were very fashionable.

White became the color of the wedding dress only after 1840. Queen Victoria’s wedding to Albert of Saxe-Coburg had a great influence in marriage ceremonies. She dressed in white. Victoria chose this color because she wanted to prove that she can lead her people towards savings. White is the cheapest color, because there is no need to paint the fabric. In addition, the queen had another reason, she didn’t want to change the white lace she had already ordered. Though brides continued to dress in other colors, the Queen launched a trend that gradually has become today’s bridal dress code.

The white wedding dress is not, as believed, the symbol of purity. In our days, more than 75% of wedding dresses are white. But, in many countries this is not a fortunate color. In China, for example, a marriage dress should be any color other than white, because it is associated with grief and misfortune.

It is said that when a bride chooses to wear white, parents oppose the marriage or deny it. In India, it is acceptable to wear a white wedding dress, only if it has an application of a different color. A completely white dress will bring unhappiness.

As you can see, there are many stories and beliefs related to the wedding dress and nowadays choosing a wedding dress is one of the most difficult tasks for women, many of them being guided either by tradition or their personalities.

Permanent link: The History of the White Wedding Dress

There are generally two tendencies: offering a valuable wedding gift, like money, jewelry, trips or rooms rented in fashionable resorts. Usually, when it comes to this type of gifts, the value is directly proportional with the love and appreciation the giver has for the newlyweds.

Of course, not all the guests have the same financial possibilities, so it remains for the bride and groom to appreciate the efforts they make to offer a valuable gift. The only disadvantage when it comes to gifts in this category, except for jewelry, of course, is that they are easily spent and, as the years go by, the couple may not even remember them.

The other option is buying sentimental gifts. They do not cost a fortune, they express the giver’s feelings and wishes for the newlyweds and they last over time, turning into lovely souvenirs.

If these are the kind of gifts you prefer, you can go romantic with twisted candlesticks or a personalized candle set in the bride and groom’s favorite colors and scents. If you are more into practical gifts, you can choose an appetizer serving set, preferably made of quality porcelain or glass.

A funny and thoughtful gift would be a wall gallery frame made of 5 to 10 frames, with pictures of the two in their best moments. The advantage with this gift is that you can choose between various models, positions and sizes, in order to find the one item that fits the couple’s home perfectly.

Of course, the list could continue, but you probably understood the basics. The final choice, however, can only be yours because you know exactly how much money you can afford to spend and you know the bride and groom or at least people that know them very well, so you can find out what they like.

The ideal is, of course, to combine value with emotions and get the newlyweds a gift that is worth very much both from the material and from the sentimental point of view. They will certainly treasure such a gift above anything else, especially knowing that it comes from the heart!

Permanent link: The Best Wedding Gift: Valuable vs. From the Heart

However, a lot of people seem to neglect the importance of the wedding bouquet, considering it more of an accessory to the wedding dress and, of course, a way to pass on the luck, when thrown away by the bride in order for one of the bachelorettes to catch it.

That little and beautiful bouquet is supposed to make you feel happy and beautiful, it should represent you, from the colors to the arrangements of the flowers it is made of. It should compliment your dress and be a 100% faithful representation of how you feel and what you feel that day.

Most women choose bouquets in the same colors—mostly white—and with a single type of flowers, like roses, lilies, peonies, poppies, zinnias and anemones. But why not choose a beautiful mixed bouquet, with different flowers, even of different colors?

Such a bouquet would make your wedding even more beautiful and would give you the freedom to express yourself, to let the others see the joy, the energy and the hopes that characterize you.

You can combine sweet peonies and roses, if you want to keep it romantic and have a bouquet full of life, to emanate joy and freshness, or, you can choose a golden bouquet, perfect for the summer-autumn months, made of yellow roses—preferably garden ones -, poppies and peonies.

You can also try a pink bouquet, to make you feel young and happy, by combining zinnias, roses and lilies. Another beautiful combination would be of white and blue, with anemones, roses and forget-me-not or lavender flowers.

Or, you can combine only country flowers, of white, blue and yellow colors, spiced up with some 3-5 poppies, in order to create a feeling of complexion. This bouquet is perfect for a spring wedding. Other flowers you can choose from are calla lilies, daffodils and orchids.

You may not see it in the beginning, but mixed bouquets are actually the answer to any prayer. You no longer have to sacrifice the flower you like in order to match the bouquet with your dress or the arrangements, you no longer have to settle for a single, dull nuance: your bouquet can express freedom and sensitivity, your love for nature and the people around you!

Permanent link: Why Choose a Mixed Wedding Bouquet?

It is probably the most beautiful dress you will ever wear and the one that should represent you and your preferences, 100%. This is why you need to take your time, to invest the necessary money and buy the perfect dress or have it custom made.

If there are thousands of models available, some lovelier than others, bound to make you look at your best, things are a little delicate when it comes to the color. Although in countries like China, India and Vietnam the regular color for a wedding dress is red, symbolizing good luck and auspiciousness, in the Christian countries white is the dominant color.

It was made popular by Queen Victoria during her marriage to Albert of Saze-Coburg and turned to a tradition followed by every generation until today. Of course, rules are made to be broken, which means that, if you feel like wearing a different color, you should do so.

It can be something close to white and just as beautiful, like wearing ivory, eggshell, red, pink, ecru, pale-blue and, why not, even black. You can leave the dress white and spice it up with a flower or a ribbon in a different color.

Before you decide, make sure you take all the details into account, like:

• The color of your skin — a shade of ivory or beige that looks great in the window or on someone else may not match your skin and look awful on you.
• The color of the table cloth and of the flower arrangements.
• The color of the groom’s shirt and suit.

In the end, you may have to admit that white remains the easiest to match color, but that should not upset you, because, although it is quite simple and common, it has a lot of hidden meanings: a new beginning, purity, happiness, joy, eternity.

More than that, it compliments any skin type, and, if the model of the dress is chosen correctly, it will emphasize shape and cut, making you, as a bride, look and feel great, as any woman deserves on the most special day in her life – that of her wedding.

Permanent link: Should Your Wedding Dress Be White?

Olden Times

Incorporating flowers into wedding ceremonies has been seen, since Roman times, as a symbol of fertility, which meant that herbs, orange blossoms, garlic and other similar plants never missed from the wedding preparations.

Both Greeks and Romans thought that their smell would keep the evil spirits away from the bride, therefore guaranteeing happiness and loyalty in the marriage. However, the exquisite combination of herbs were not carried by the bride in her hands, but, instead, worn under the form of a garland in her hair. At the end of the ceremony, the edible herbs were given to the newlyweds to eat, as they were also supposed to increase their sexual desire.

But, throughout the Victorian period, the practices changed. Queen Victoria herself carried a bouquet made of a few herbs and mostly fresh flowers, thus making fashionable the bouquet as it is known today.

The bouquet was also the bearer of a message, since each flower had its own special meaning. In some parts of the world, only certain flowers were considered to bring good luck for the marriage (such as daffodils, daisies, irises, magnolias, orchids, roses), while other flowers were forbidden from being displayed in the wedding bouquet (like lavender, poppies, marigolds).

Color of the Bouquet

The color of the bouquet also had a major importance: the more intense it was, the more intense were the feelings of the bride considered. Today, all these have no serious meaning, as each bride picks the bouquet based on her preferences, her favorite colors, her and her bridesmaids’ allergies, etc., and, also, in tone with the wedding dress, thus suiting her uniqueness and her style in the most important day of her life.

Tossing the Bouquet

But, let’s not forget about the most important tradition related to the wedding bouquet: its tossing. After it, the bouquet ends up in the hands and the home of a lucky single lady who is said to follow the bride and be the next to get married.

While this is a highly awaited moment at the wedding, it was not a tradition in the past centuries. Earlier in time, it was considered that getting a piece of the bride’s dress brought good luck, and it meant that everybody would pull on her dress during the festivities, making the bride feel uncomfortable and preventing her from properly enjoying her own wedding.

In order to stop this practice, the brides started throwing personal objects, such as the garland and, later, the bouquet, considering that they passed their good fortune to another person, and thus making the women who wanted to get married eager to catch them.

Permanent link: The Significance of the Wedding Bouquet

Okay now that you have done the whole honeymoon thing and everyone is happy and things are slowly getting back to normal. You need to now make some very important and critical decision with your partner about your property and how best you are going to split it or use it or sell it. For instance lets suppose you both have you own houses or condos, you will need to decide which house you will stay in and whether you will sell rent the other one.

Theses decisions are very crucial decisions and they can make or break a relationship. It is always best to make these decisions with your better half and it is best you guys trash it out if need be. Do not leave any hanging loose ends and do not think that these things will sort themselves out because they will not.

If you and your partner fail to agree on what to do it is always best to seek some advice and this can be someone you both trust. Also there is nothing wrong with seeking the services of a professional business or real estate consultant. A professional business consultant can give you very good and sound advice on what to do and how best to do it. There are so many questions and things that need addressing and resolving for newly weds. These are not easy questions but they need to be addressed and resolved.

The issue of your mortgage will need to be addressed and also the issue of do we sell or do we rent will also need to be addressed. These professional business consultants tend to be very good and they will probably give you sound advice on how best to tackle these issues. The important thing is to do this together and to make the decision together. As a couple it is important not to develop a big ego and be not willing to compromise. Everything is about meeting your partner half way and compromising.

Some of the property that they both have may either need to be sold, put up for auction or given away. These are just some suggestions and ideas that the couple may want to consider but at the end of the day the most important thing is that they come to a solution and resolution together and they both are happy with the solution. It is entirely up to them and they need to decide for themselves what to do and how best to do it.

Permanent link: When it Comes to Marriage: My Mortgage or Yours?

As far as the wedding party is concerned, it is often the Maid/Matron of honor who bears the burden of the work. In addition to helping the Bride plan and coordinate the wedding, the Maid of Honor is often in charge of the bridal shower, the hen night (also known as the bachelorette party) and helping the Bride get ready on her special day. She is the woman who shows up at the wedding with safety pins, rubber bands, and is prepared for anything that could go wrong. She is expected to pay for her own wedding attire and is usually one of the witnesses during the signing of the marriage certificate.

The Best Man is, most famously, responsible for planning the Groom’s bachelor party. While wedding etiquette often tells the Father of the Bride to give the first toast at the wedding reception, that duty has been falling to the Best Man more and more often. He is also supposed to help arrange transportation to and from the wedding and reception for any guests who are traveling from out of town. Before the wedding, the Best Man should help oversee the tuxedo rentals for other male members of the wedding party and should keep the groomsmen under control and on task. The Best Man is often the second witness when the Bride and Groom sign their marriage certificate.

Of course, even if you are not the Bride, Groom, Maid of Honor, Best Man or a relative of the happy couple, you can still have responsibilities.

Traditionally bridesmaids help the Maid of Honor organize the bridal shower and attend the hen party. They are also usually held responsible for the constructing of party favors and other wedding errands that the Bride and Maid of Honor are unable to do. They can be called upon for help addressing invitations, decorating the wedding venue—whatever needs to be done.

The groomsmen are expected to do quite a bit more than simply attend the bachelor party. Groomsmen are famous for decorating the happy couple’s car before they leave the reception. They also help load and unload wedding gifts, help in the set up and break down of the reception site and act as escorts to the bridesmaids during the wedding ceremony.

Being a member of a wedding party is more than dressing up and standing at the front of a wedding venue while a couple takes wedding vows. They are the engine of the wedding machine and help take care of the little details that the Bride and Groom cannot do themselves! Being a member of a wedding party is a big responsibility!

Permanent link: Wedding Party Duties

Then we thought how, exactly, do parents choose the names they choose for their babies? Don’t they worry about nicknames if they opt for something… unique? What happens if someone’s family has a strict tradition of naming children only certain things but the parent wants to go another way? How do parents decide whether or not to tell people the name that they have chosen for the baby? How do expectant parents deal when they tell someone the name and that person starts acting like a jerk about it?

We’re willing to bet that you wonder the same thing. In fact, you’re probably facing a lot of these questions now as you’re deciding on a name for your future son or daughter.

So we made a book for you!

This book talks about the questions we’ve already gone over… and more! Okay. That sounds really hype-y, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it is still true. We didn’t limit ourselves to those questions.

If you’ve ever wondered about where our names come from and all of the various things that go into naming a child, you should get this book! And you can! Right now!

No, really. You should read our baby book.

Permanent link: How to Name Your Baby: PDF Book

Most of the time, when people think the words “common law marriage” the image that comes to mind is that of a domestic partnership. The two are not the same. The differences might be subtle but they are there and they are important. Simply living with a significant other does not mean that you have entered into a common law marriage. Even if you live with your significant other for a long time, you are not necessarily in a common law marriage.

Here is what makes a common law marriage:

• Both people in the relationship need to be old enough to be married legally without the consent of a parent or guardian. This one is pretty obvious.
• Common law marriages aren’t typically entered into formally via a ceremony or in front of witnesses.
• Both people in the relationship need to acknowledge that the partnership is a marriage.
• Neither of the people in the relationship can be currently married or in a domestic partnership or common law marriage with someone else.
• Most of the time, both of the people in the relationship will have had to carried themselves publicly as a married person. This means that they have referred to their significant other as a husband or a wife, told people in the community that they are married—all of the things you would do if you had simply gotten married (the regular way).
• The only thing that can dissolve a legal common law marriage is a divorce.

Unlike a domestic partnership-like situation, a common law marriage can be held legally binding should one person in the relationship want to bring suit against the other. This is much trickier in a domestic partnership situation.

A lot of couples, particularly when they are in the planning phases of a marriage or while planning a wedding will toy with the idea of having a common-law marriage instead of a formal marriage. This is often because of the stress of the planning involved in joining two lives together. Other times, a couple will have been together and lived together for so long that they think they don’t need to formalize their relationship legally because they think they are already in a common-law marriage.

This is where it can get tricky. Not all states recognize a common-law marriage. If you are living in a state that does not recognize common-law marriage (Oregon, for example), you are in a domestic partnership and subject to all of the limitations that come with it until you enter into a legal marriage agreement.

The best thing to do if you have questions about common-law marriages and whether or not it is right for you (or if you are wondering whether or not you are in one) is talk to a family law expert. Your lawyer or expert will be well versed in the local statutes and be able to help you figure out where you are at and where you should go from here.

Most importantly, if you are someone who is worried that he or she might have inadvertently stumbled into a common-law marriage-like commitment—try not to panic. It takes more than simply spending lots of time together (or even living together for a long time) to be married according to common law!

Permanent link: Common Law Marriage: Are You In One? Can You Get One? What Is It?

Traditionally, the bachelor and bachelorette party are nights of drunken debauchery. Bachelor parties are notorious for exotic dancers and lewd behavior and in recent years Brides and their attendants have worked very hard to live up to the low bar that has been set by their male counterparts.

So how do you plan a fun night that everyone can enjoy?

1. Ask the Bride and Groom what they want to do. It is, after all, “their” night. If the Groom says he’d rather stay home and play poker, arrange a night of staying home and playing poker—even if you would rather go club hopping. If the Bride says that she wants to do a pub crawl then a pub crawl you will do.

2. If alcohol is involved, you will need to arrange to have a designated driver. One of the easiest ways to do this while not leaving anybody out is to hire a car service for the evening. There are many companies that offer “party busses” and other vehicles that are driven by sober professionals—call around to get the best rate. Hiring a car service (limousines are always popular) might seem extravagant but it is the best way to make sure that everyone invited to the party can take part in the festivities.

3. Respect the Bride and Groom’s wishes when it comes to alcohol. Not everyone has fun getting drunk and if the Bride or Groom says that she or he does not want to drink too much, don’t pressure that person to keep drinking.

4. Choose your budget ahead of time and stick to it. Make reservations ahead of time and pay in advance for services so that you will not be tempted to overspend once you are caught up in the fun of the night. It is also a good idea to let the party guests know how much money they should bring ahead of time that way they can be prepared.

5. Plan the big night a few nights before the wedding. While tradition and popular media usually show the bachelor and bachelorette parties happening after the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, it is a good idea to plan the night for a few nights before the wedding. This will give the bride and groom a few days to recover from the festivities before getting married. Remember, they probably want to remember their big day with clarity and probably don’t want to spend it pretending not to be hung-over.

Planning a Bachelor or Bachelorette party does not have to be difficult—remember to have fun!

Permanent link: The Bachelor and Bachelorette Party

In Christian teaching, the purpose of marriage is to procreate. Other culture allows polygamy and is considered to be legal so long as they can provide for their different families. When a couple decides to get married, a wedding celebration is expected and all friends and families of both parties are invited.

Traditions

In a wedding ceremony, wedding vows are exchanged by the couple that is publicly proclaimed by a leader. Priests, pastors and other religious leaders head the celebration in a religious community. A public official such as the mayor can perform civil marriages. Presentation of gifts such as rings, money, symbolic items or flowers by the couple to one another is an important part in the celebration. A wedding reception usually follows after the couple is officially married.

Wedding couples and their entourage wear special clothes to celebrate the event. The traditional white wedding dress and veil worn by the bride was popularized by Queen Victoria. It is said to be a sign of sexual purity. Nowadays, a white wedding dress is viewed as a fashion statement. Other countries and cultures have their own special wedding clothes. Japanese wear their traditional garment Kimono. Koreans also wear their traditional garment called Hanbok. In India, their traditional dress is called Sari. Grooms usually wear formal black coat and tie. In the UK, it is called a White Tie.

The wedding ring originally came from European culture. Women were the only ones who used it but in the 20th century, it became customary for the couple to wear wedding rings. In pre-wedding customs, an engagement ring is given by the man to a woman as a betrothal present.

Religious customs

In a Christian wedding, the ceremony is often held in a church presided by a priest or a pastor. The ceremony is based on the bible. In India, Hindu wedding lasts several days depending on the social class or caste. A Hindu priest called Brahmin is present to witness the wedding. In Jewish customs, wedding celebration lasts for seven days. The groom breaks a glass underfoot when the ceremony ends. Muslim weddings follow the Quran teachings. Muslim weddings should be declared publicly.

Permanent link: Wedding Traditions Around the World

So, as it seems that more and more people have decided to think of themselves and what would make them happy on the day of their wedding, thus choosing something memorable, as well as unusual, as a wedding location. Here are three examples:

Underwater Marriage

It can either mean diving, or wedding on a submarine. While diving could relate to heavenly places with clear blue waters, such as Bali, the wedding on a submarine generally takes people into the depths of the waters, mainly, in places where famous ships have found their final rest. The most famous place of the kind is where the Titanic lays.

The best parts associated with this idea are that the partners don’t have to worry about a wedding dress or a costume, nor about a menu, list of guests and other similar aspects, as both diving and a submarine mean that only a few people, close family members and friends, can be present.

Therefore, the key element is to keep it small and, why not, even simpler (thou the prices for renting a submarine or diving equipment still have to be taken into consideration, as underwater marriage is a not-so-cheap option).

Climbing

For this, a bride does not need high heels, a fancy wedding dress (maybe no dress at all, since at some altitudes warm clothes are required), and the guest list is, likely, empty. The problem might be finding a priest who would make it to the top of the mountain with you two.

It’s cheaper than the previous option, because there is no cost to go up a mountain; the only costs will involve a guide, if you’re not sure about the area, and a priest. But nothing fancy can be done in this case, therefore making it a short ceremony.

The sensation one could have, being on top of the world, the beauty of the view and the freshening air make this option a choice worth considering for nature lovers and for those who want something both special and simple.

Skydiving or Bungee Jumping

Both options involve air and jumping, but at different levels. While you most likely won’t find a priest to jump with you, in the first case, you will surely find one to officiate your wedding on a bridge, while you are getting ready to bungee jump.

As it was the case with the first two options, you don’t need formal attire, and you just keep it simple with the ceremony. But, while, with skydiving other people can’t be with you on the plane from which you jump (except the essential ones for this activity and a priest), on a bridge you might invite more guests. These two options are not cheap, but they sure guarantee an adrenaline rush.

Permanent link: 3 Unusual Wedding Locations

Budget

Decide on the budget. Identify your priorities for the venue, guests, reception, dress, flowers and many others. Always remember that the marriage itself is the most important. Couples shouldn’t stress themselves if they only have a small budget.

Wedding Planner

Couples should discuss if they really need to hire a wedding planner. If couple is too busy to handle the wedding preparation, hiring a wedding planner will be convenient and helpful. Friends or a family member can serve as a wedding planner if they know how to handle such events.

Wedding Date and Venue

Its advisable to plan a wedding for a year. Couples should understand that its not that easy to reserve a wedding venue that will be favorable to their chosen wedding date. Monitor events in their chosen venue and book as early as possible.

Wedding Entourage

Members of the entourage are usually the couples close family member and friends. Inform them early so they can save the date and have more time to prepare for the wedding. Identify the importance of their roles: principal sponsors, maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids and groomsmen. Make sure they will be there to support your marriage life.

Guests and Invitations

Another reason why a preparation should take a year is because to choose the guests. Its up to the couple if they want to invite their extended relatives and officemates. Some couple prefers only to invite close family and friends. Wedding invitations must be given 3 to 4 months before the wedding day.

Wedding reception

Choose a venue where guests will be comfortable. Its a way of thanking them for attending your wedding. Decide on what food and drinks will be served. There are places that offer wedding reception packages that include the food, drinks, wedding cake and in some instances, room accommodation if its held in a hotel.

Permanent link: Tips When Preparing a Perfect Dream Wedding

To prevent problems about financial management from wrecking your married life, there are many ways to effectively manage and strengthen your marriage and finances altogether. First is for both of you to learn how to plan your actions properly. Planning plays a very important role when it comes to handling either marriage or finances, or both. In leading a fruitful married life, you would have to plan about many things, those that have to be achieved and those that have to be avoided, and anticipate any possible problems that may arise. The same principle applies to household financial management.

Before indulging on a shopping spree, think over the things that are supposed to be prioritized on your shopping list and decide if you have enough funds to spare for other things that are not listed. Plans are carefully decided upon for you to see where your management effort would lead to, and once settled with the right plan, it is important that you diligently follow it or else it will waste everyone’s efforts.

Another way to effectively manage your finances as a married couple is to maintain a certain budget. This budget, just like your other plans, should always be considered whenever you’re making any financial decision. Spending way over your budget will only create problems as it would lead to a time when you can no longer buy your necessities simply because you’ve got no funds to work around. Though it would cause some hard feelings, being strict on following your budget is a good idea because in the long run both of you will benefit from it in many ways.

Last, but definitely the most important aspect of financial management is saving money. Married couples must learn the value of saving money from the very start. Basically, you wouldn’t be able to do the first two tips here if you haven’t built up a fund to begin with. There is no way that you can plan expenses and set a decent budget if you don’t even have a dollar to spend. If you have your savings, you will not go hungry during those unfortunate dry days of the year, and you will definitely be able to get through tough financial difficulties without even opening up an argument.

Permanent link: Dealing With Marriage and Finances

Conflicts arise when one thinks he/she is not earning enough as compared to the other despite the same efforts to earn as much. But naturally there’s always two sides to every issue and it is the responsibility of both partners in a relationship to seek answers and settle financial disputes as one. If you are one of the many couples who are having a hard time juggling marriage with your finances, here are three good practices that you can observe in order to effectively manage and strengthen your marriage and finances.

Planning

Planning is very important when it comes to handling marriage and finances. In marriage, you have to plan about things that has to be done and anticipate any possible problems that may arise. The same goes in managing your finances. This can be observed whenever the two of you plans on shopping. Before you indulge in a shopping spree, identify the things that are supposed to be on top of your shopping list and think over if buying other things at the moment is part of the plan. Plans are meant to be there for you to see where the money should be appropriately used, and once you’re settled with a good plan, it is vital that you stick to it diligently.

Budgeting

Similar to planning, it is also important in effectively managing marriage and finances by setting a particular budget. This budget, just like other concrete plans, should be followed strictly and should always be considered in making any financial decision. Buying things not included in the budget will only create problems as there will come a time when you would no longer be able to purchase your necessities because you’ve already spent way over your budget and you’re left with no funds to work around. Overspending should always be avoided, even though it would cause some hard feelings, because in the long run it will benefit the both of you in numerous ways.

Saving

For a marriage to be able to face any financial troubles in the future, married couples must be able to learn the value of saving money. If you want to effectively manage your marriage and finances, practice the value of saving. If you have your savings, you will not go hungry during the rainy days and will be able to get through tough financial difficulties.

Permanent link: Working Your Way Around Marriage and Finances

Premarital counseling can be a good way for you to become acquainted about what you can expect once you are married to your partner, but this is not necessary for some couples as long as they know how to prepare for marriage. There is a two-fold approach that you can take before you can get married: for you to get to know yourself better so you will know what you are looking for in the marriage, and for you to know your partner better so you can become a good spouse to him or her. Don’t be blinded about the possibility of having a fairy-tale wedding and actually being married to someone. Instead, take a good and hard look at yourself and your partner if you can truly imagine seeing yourself in a lifelong relationship with him or her. Of course, experiencing problems even before marriage does not mean you should cut all ties with your fiance or your fiancee. It simply means that you have to evaluate yourself as to whether you can imagine resolving any of these issues together once you are married.

While you or your partner may have high expectations about the relationship, you also have to be aware of the fact that reality may not always meet your expectations. Like you, your partner is only human, with very human weaknesses. Do you know what your partner’s weaknesses are? If so, can you imagine yourself living with these and dealing with these on a daily basis? Does your love for your partner overshadow his or her faults? The trick is to expect perfection from each other, but to love each other, warts and all.

Preparing for a grand wedding is all well and good. However, all of the preparations are worthless if the couple is not actually prepared for what is entailed in a marriage. Make sure that you are ready for what the relationship calls for so that you truly will be able to have a love that will last forever.

Permanent link: Preparing for Marriage

Does He or She Tell the Truth?

The truth is important in any relationship, even when you are not married. But the truth is of utmost importance once you decide to live with each other forever. If he or she is not honest with you at the beginning of your relationship then that is a red flag on how the relationship will go. Honesty is important for trust. If your partner is dishonest with you he or she will continue to lie to you throughout your relationship. Lying in the small things will lead to bigger lies in the future. Talk with your partner to develop trust and truthfulness with each other.

Is He or She Genuinely Nice?

People will do everything just to get what they want. This goes for men and women in relationships. Is he or she after your money or is really in love with you? Money is a flimsy base for a long term relationship. The moment you run out of money or the moment someone else who has more appears will the person you are with stay? If the answer is unclear then that is a red flag. A relationship is not all about money, although it is needed it is not the foundation.

Is he or she only nice to you? If he or she is only nice to you that is a red flag on how he or she will treat you once you are settled in a relationship. He or she may treat you like dirt when you get old or you do not meet their expectations.

Are Your Expectations Too High?

Expectations are not bad in themselves but there are times when your spouse or potential spouse falls short of your ideal standards. Everyone has their flaws, are you willing to forgive that person? Compromise and forgiveness are a big part of any relationship. Don’t expect too much from your spouse or potential spouse so that you can be at peace with your relationship and with each other.

Permanent link: Marriage Tips: Where is the One?

Picture It

Conceptualize your wedding from beginning to end. Where will your wedding take place? Is it going to be a formal event or would you prefer something more casual? When is it going to be? What is the theme of your wedding? What kind of food do you want to serve? Be sure to include the ceremony itself and the wedding reception after when you think about your wedding.

Budgeting

Set a budget. This is perhaps the most important thing to consider because whether you like it or not, weddings cost a lot of money. Your budget should be functional and has room for a bit of flexibility. It should combine both fantasy and practicality.

Guest Count

Decide on how many guests you want to invite. The size of your wedding will affect the size of your budget. Discuss the guest list with your fiance. Some couples set a limit number when it comes to guests, like 50 people each from both sides to make a total of 100 guests. This is where you also decide on who will be included in the wedding party (maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.)

Documents

Prepare the necessary documents you will need for your marriage certificate. If it isn’t valid, you’re not married. You might be required to attend pre-marriage counseling before you get approval for your marriage license.

The Date

Set the date. The wedding date will be determined by the availability of the couple, the guests, and the venue.

Location

Book the venues for the ceremony and the reception after the date is set. This is important especially if the venues you choose are famous wedding sites.

Who Officiates

Choose who will officiate the wedding. You have the option to choose between having a civil wedding or a religious ceremony.

Remaining Tasks

Choose your wedding dress, and the outfits of the bridal party. Interview and hire vendors, caterers, and wedding photographers and videographers. Send out the invitations, preferably weeks before the wedding and make sure the guests RSVPs.

Permanent link: Things to Consider When Planning Your Wedding

In the most festive event in a couples lives, everything has to be perfect to a point that you could not have written it any better in a storybook. But these days, the term perfect has its different set of meanings. Depending on the couples preferences, the perfect wedding can be perceived in different ways. And for such, one cannot just deny that creativity eventually takes its course.

For instance, look at the wedding attires. Sure, a gown and a tux would look nice. But it’s so common already. Nobody wants to see the same thing over and over again! It’s time to change it up a bit. Make the groom wear something elegant but in a way, edgy. Go for a suit that is not monotonic in color. Or in this case, any color that is not black. Don’t wear a bow. Wear a tie instead.

For the bride, it’s time for something more edgy as well. A cute cocktail dress may work in this case. Though none of the suggestions above are actually quite different from the theme, keep in mind that you are not actually changing it up. Instead, you are adding to the regular twist that comes along with weddings. Keep in mind that the solemnity of the wedding still has to be there no matter what.

Speaking of solemnity, the song that you choose can also put things in perspective. Some people tend to go with the regular wedding hymn when the bride walks down the aisle and then forget that there are much better choices out there in terms of music. Explore a bit and see what you can play instead. For example, Gravity by John Mayer is relatively new at this point in time when it comes to wedding songs. Why not try something like that? Or in other cases, you can go about with other songs that seem to possess that solemn hymn that couples are bound to be looking for. Take the time to look into what you can do for your wedding.

Permanent link: Wedding Songs and Gowns – Changing It Up

Planning a wedding can be fun and exciting but it can also be a difficult arrangement. There are lots of things to keep in mind. It will consume a lot of your effort and energy. In order to have a successful wedding, you must need to plan your actions carefully. You always need to have back-up plans in case your first one does not work.

Things to remember when planning a wedding:

Budget

Estimating how much money you have and how much you are willing to spend is important. Although a wedding is s special event, it is wise to budget your money. Don’t go overboard. Don’t insist things if it is not on the budget. Thus, finding the right people to help you out will help you to save some money. You just have to know where to find all the stuffs you need in your wedding.

Guest List and Invitations

Make sure you to invite people who are close to you and your partner. Let them witness the joy of your unity. Surrounding yourself with people close to your heart will make the wedding extraordinary.

Venue

In choosing a venue, it is best to find a place that is very accessible. You don’t want your guests to arrive late because of the difficult directions they have to deal with. Also, choose a venue that can accommodate all your guests. If you are expecting a lot of guests, make sure that you have spacious venue.

Wedding Dress

Since this is your wedding, you have to go dress shopping to pick a design and style that will make you stand out. Choose a dress that will display elegance and classiness. This is your special day so make sure to present your best look.

The aforementioned are some pointers to keep in mind when planning a wedding. But before you do all that, make sure that you already have a marriage license. Without a marriage license, all the preparations will be useless. To get a marriage license, you and your partner should present identification certificate or cards.

Permanent link: Things to Keep in Mind When Planning a Wedding