An Old Believers Wedding

Yesterday, Today reported about a little town in Alaska called Nikolaevsk that hasn’t changed its ways very much since 1650. Actually, the town wasn’t founded then. It was founded by six families in 1968. But the people who founded it have kept their ways since their split with the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century. Coming to America That’s how they ended up in Alaska. When reformers changed the religion, some resisted and stuck to the old ways. They became known as Old Believers. But they faced persecution for keeping their beliefs and lifestyle and found themselves in search … Continue reading →

Getting Married Behind Bars

Ever wondered how people who are incarcerated get married? Do they have a ceremony? How do they get things like the marriage license? And what about guests or the reception. Do they have a reception? How many guests can attend a wedding behind bars? I have to admit the logistics of getting wed from jail had never crossed my mind. But then that muse of mine, Jade Walker, sent me the link to a wild story about just such things. It was called “Marrying at Rikers Island: Few Frills, Many Rules” by Christine Hauser which was published by the New … Continue reading →

Choosing a Wedding Theme

When planning a wedding, choosing theme never really entered my mind. When I think of the word “theme” I think of a type of character or well-known symbol. However the more that I thought about having a wedding theme, the more I realized that all weddings have a theme. While the theme may be more suitably considered a “mood”, in essence it is still a theme. I have been to weddings that have had a cowboy or country theme where the bridesmaids and groomsmen wore boots. I have been to a wedding with a John Deere theme where everything was … Continue reading →

More Than Just a Dance

Yesterday in Your First Dance & YouTube I expressed my surprise at the idea of making a spectacle of yourself at your wedding by spending so much money and time to perform a first dance that is reminiscent of the Thriller video and more. I mentioned to my husband when he got home from work and let me tell you what I love about my husband, I can tell him something like this with my skeptical face on and he can turn it around for me. What a Great Way to Work Together My thought when I first heard this … Continue reading →

Your First Dance & YouTube

Have you ever visited YouTube? It’s all the rage now from music videos for your favorite soap opera characters to personal video clips shared with the whole family and much, more. YouTube is also becoming the hot venue for couples looking to show off and get noticed with their first dance. Among some of the dances I’ve seen couples do on YouTube includes a bride, groom and their wedding party delivering a great rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Can You Imagine Creating a Spectacle? It’s hard for me to imagine dancing our first dance to something that’s designed to make … Continue reading →

Planning a Disney Wedding? Want a Disney Wedding Dress?

My husband and I were married at Disney World and I’ve discussed our destination wedding here in the marriage blog before. But beginning this spring, Disney is adding a new facet to their Disney wedding splendor that you can take advantage of whether you are planning a Disney wedding or a wedding at home. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Disney Consumer Products recently announced the launch of what they call the Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Collection. This collection allows every little girl who dreamed of a fairy tale wedding the opportunity to wear bridal gowns inspired by … Continue reading →

Are Dates Lucky in Love?

Last year, Libby wrote a great blog related to the date of June 6, 2006 and how many people were worried about the numerology of the date. So this year, it should hardly be surprising that a new number is making the rounds, but this time in the sense of how lucky is the date going to be for lovers planning their wedded bliss. July 7, 2007 Rolling three sevens on a slot machine is a sure way to win the jackpot and apparently, the most popular day for wedding planners this year is 7/7/07. Checking out local venues from … Continue reading →

Wedding Traditions – France

France, the name of the country is as provocative as the romance that is associated with it. When I was younger, I tickled myself silly when I realized the France and romance rhymed together and didn’t that seem appropriate? Whether you are of French descent or merely love all things French, there are many traditions that you can call upon. The Chest of Hopes Did you know that the hope chest came from France originally? The wedding trousseau refers to the bundle of clothes that the bride will take with her to her new home – and for modern brides, … Continue reading →

Wedding Traditions – Japan

My daughter has a great fondness for all things Japanese and she thrills to the knowledge – any knowledge – about Japan. So as I started this new series on wedding traditions, I decided on Japan as our first around the world outing to study the wedding traditions. Most of my information comes from research both online and off. According to Japanese myth, the creation of all things occurred because of the marriage of the god and goddess Izanagi and Izanami. These two gods came down to the primordial earth from their place amongst the heavens across a rainbow bridge. … Continue reading →

Kindness Wedding Planning Tips

We talked about the kindness trend in wedding planning earlier today and I’ve discussed the idea of registering to give in an earlier article. The idea of asking for donations to favorite charities and more is a growing devotional for many couples who are planning their weddings. If you are looking for some ideas and tips to incorporate kindness into your wedding – here are a few ideas: As suggested in Registering to Give; Rather than Receive ask your wedding guests to make contributions to a favorite charity or chosen cause that is important to you or important to them. … Continue reading →