About Relationships

There are many traditions that are accepted when it comes to weddings, especially when it comes to the groom not seeing what dress the bride is wearing. This makes it very difficult to have any sort of say when it comes to this aspect of the wedding plans. Of course the groom will already have a good understanding of the them of the wedding and whether it is going to be modern or more traditional. It used to be the case that the groom wouldn’t get the chance to see his beautiful bride in her dress however it would be understandable that he wouldn’t want to offer his opinion on the wedding day.

It is fair to say that today’s modern bride is much more concerned about the opinion of her groom and will will try to balance her opinions against him in order to make sure that she will find a wedding dress that they both like. In some cases they will take their groom to be out shopping so that when they are looking through potential dresses they can listen to his opinion. He is sure to have a variety of opinions as som grooms will prefer their bride to go for a more conservative look where as others may prefer something more elegant or flamboyant. Everyone can agree that the wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the overall wedding so it stands to reason that the groom should be able to have his say.

Before you both go out shopping for that ideal wedding gown it would be sensible to site down and discuss the budget for your wedding as well as how much you would like to set aside for the dress itself. Once you have established a suitable budget this will make the rest of the planning process much easier. If you are sticking to the old tradition of the bride’s parents putting up the money for the wedding then that is one less thing for you to worry about, however if you are funding it with your own hard earned cash then clearly the wedding budget is going to be something which will require a great deal more consideration. Picking a sensible budget for a wedding dress can be very difficult as prices can vary from relatively cheap to prices which may seem astronomical. The important thing is that you keep a perspective on what is important for your wedding. The last thing you would want to happen is for the amount of money you spend to compromise the budget for the rest of the wedding!

In this day and age where the groom is more inclined to have a say in the wedding dress, make an effort to browse as many places and shops as possible. There will be plenty of specialist wedding websites that will offer photos of dresses from popular dress designers. You may even find that buying a dress online is a little cheaper than in the usual high street shops. As we have established, it is important that you both agree on a style AND price before you go out to make a purchase.

Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, a UK retailer of vintage wedding jewellery.

Summer time: sun, beer, BBQ’s and chilling with your mates. What better time of year to organise a stag do?! Summer is the most popular time of year for stag dos and it’s easy to see why – but how can you make the most of the gorgeous weather and plan that amazing stag do?

Summer Venues

It is always nice to experience another country when organising a stag do but what most people don’t realise is that are a whole range of UK venues that really glisten in the sunshine!

Take your time to research venues as most have special activities during the summer months that can truly add to your experience. UK venues really do offer something for everyone, whether it’s a cultured, historic talk or an exciting, high thrill adventure day, you will be sure to find something to whet your appetite!

Summer Activities

Loads of stag do activities lend themselves to be enjoyed in the summer so get out there and do them! Here are a few ideas to get you out in the sun:

- Surfing – Take a trip to the coast and catch some waves! Many stag do organisers can plan a weekend away for you that will revolve around taking to the water and falling off rather large pieces of wood!

- Get Back to Nature – If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise…grown men clambering around on ropes and falling into shrubbery! For some reason the sun makes us want to act like Tarzan and why not?!

- Scale Heights and Ride Bikes – Another activity praising the great outdoors! Rock climbing is great fun (as long as you aren’t afraid of heights!) and can leave you with a real sense of achievement. If you would rather keep your feet closer to the ground then you could always try mountain bike riding; if you are feeling really adventurous then you could go off road!

- Go to the Pub – You may think spending all day drinking sounds like a waste of time; or it may sound like heaven! But what would you think of spending some time at a brewery learning about how the much loved drink is made whilst tasting unlimited samples?! A history lesson for nerds and a drinking session for…well lets keep it polite!

- Shooting Fun – Aim…FIRE! Try your hand at clay shooting against the fluffy clouds and crisp blue skies – ahh lovely! Just make sure you hit the targets!

- Quad Riding – Racing vehicles with overly big wheels is always fun! Get yourself behind the steering wheel and listen to that engine roar whilst you speed around the dirk track!

Whatever you choose to do on your summer stag do, we are sure you will have an amazing time – take full advantage of the weather and organise an event that will be remembered for years to come for all the right reasons!

Remember to be sensible though – always pack your sunscreen!

Dom Evans is a well travelled writer who is now concentrating on utilizing his experiences in advising on the best stag do destinations. He currently works at Playaway Weekends, researching and sampling world wide stag do destinations.

Do you feel like you are the only one interested in your wedding? Do you ask your groom for his opinion, only to hear, “Whatever you think is fine”? Use these ideas to get your fiance interested in the wedding, and to maybe even get a little bit of help from him!

If we are honest about, wedding planning has always been the purview of the bride and her mother. These days, many of the old notions of traditional roles for men and women have broken down, and so brides naturally expect that their guys will be as into the wedding as they are. This can be a mistaken assumption, however. Before you get too worked up over your fiance’s lack of interest in the details of planning your wedding, ask yourself if he is generally interested in the types of things which are part of a wedding like flowers, decorations, and fashions. If the answer is not so much, then it should really be no surprise that he is not super helpful when it comes to designing the dream wedding. Whatever you do, don’t take it to mean that he is having cold feet; a man can be very excited about the marriage without caring much at all about the party.

Now that we have reasonable expectations, it is time to get that groom interested and motivated! Playing to his areas of interest and expertise will help to get him more involved. As most women have noticed, even the most disinterested groom will find time to show up for the menu sampling and cake tasting appointments! Instead of trying to get his opinion in areas where he may truly have no preference (like the flowers or invitations), get him to help with the parts of the wedding which do appeal to him, like the food and the music. Let the other stuff go and just keep him updated from time to time. This is a winning situation, because you can get real help from your groom in some of the big areas, while letting go of the frustrating expectation that he will be your right hand man for every aspect of the wedding planning process (of course if your fiance is willing to help with more, great!).

Giving the groom genuine responsibilities can also help to get him off the couch and helping with plans. Of course, this means relinquishing some of the control over the final product, so before you work too hard to get your fiance to help, be sure that it is worth it to you! After all, why should he put in a lot of effort if you are going to step in and overrule him at the last minute? Let him pick the limo company and the groomsmen gifts, so that he can take ownership of some of the wedding (actually, even the least involved groom is obligated to pick out the gifts for his groomsmen).

On the big things where you could use some help making a joint decision, you might find it easier to get your fiance’s help if you do a lot of the legwork on your own. Instead of dragging him to a bridal show on a Saturday afternoon, go with a friend and narrow it down to a few top vendors. Then have you fiance come with you to meet with caterers or go see wedding bands play. A final tip is to break up wedding stuff with regular couple’s activities. One of the top complaints that many grooms have is how all-consuming wedding planning can become for the bride. Try to give him a break from the planning, and maybe you will get a more enthusiastic participant. And if all else fails, fall back on the old standby and plan the wedding with your mother!

Bridget Mora gives brides all the advice, tips, and etiquette they need to plan the perfect wedding. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/, we offer a handsome selection of groomsmen gifts to help you show your appreciation for the men in the wedding party.

Being a Best Man is an honour and for the sake of your friendship with the Groom, it is important you do a great job! Follow these handy tips to being a great Best Man…

1. Help to plan before the wedding. There are lots of details that need to be planned before a wedding and the Groom will most likely need help to keep on top of them all.

Try to be as organised as possible:

-Help book venues and double check the bookings

-Plan the Stag Do as early as possible and collect the money

-Arrange morning suit fittings, you may need several fittings before everyone is properly fitted

-Ask the Groom if there is anything he needs help with or would like you to do

-Work out how many weeks / months of preparation time you have so you can organise your time accordingly

2. Help out as much as possible at the wedding. Chances are, although it is the best day of his life, the Groom will be highly stressed. This is also true for the bride. In order to keep stress levels to a minimum try and take on as many tasks as possible; make sure the Groom, Bride and immediate family members have drinks, organise the ushers, tame unruly children, plump cushions for the elderly who are sleeping and everything in between!

At the end of the day, the wedding should be remembered by all as a smooth, calm event and if there is any way you can help this to happen then it is advisable that you do so – the Groom will thank you in the long run!

3. Deliver an entertaining speech. You have been chosen to be Best Man as the Groom trusts you; make him proud by delivering a top class speech. Embarrass him as much as possible but steer clear from stories that will make his new wife quiz him later on! Engage the audience with childhood tales, holiday stories and comedy antics, but remember there may be children present!

Start planning your speech way in advance; great words of wisdom do not occur over night and it may take a while before your creative juices start flowing. Practice your speech in front of a mirror and also in front of other people – they can give you advice for improvements. Giving a speech can be a nerve wracking experience but taking time to plan and lots of practice should make it perfect – or as near perfect as possible!

4. Organising the Stag Do. This is perhaps the most entertaining job for a Best Man! Getting a group of mates together and having a laugh, mainly at the Groom’s drunken behaviour, is crucial for any wedding! Organising a great Stag Do can be a difficult and time consuming job so you may choose to enlist the help of a Stag Weekend organiser who can accommodate all your needs.

When planning the Stag Do it is best to theme it based on the Groom’s preferences, it is a party for him after all. It is also important to remember the Bride as well when it comes to booking activities such as strippers – an upset Bride is not fun for anyone! Furthermore if you are planning to leave the country for the Stag Do, then do so a couple of days / weeks before the wedding so the Groom can make his way home in time; just in case you ‘accidently’ forget to bring him back!

5. Wrap up all loose ends after the wedding. The newly weds have gone on their honeymoon to celebrate the start of their lives together but there are still a number of things that need sorting after a wedding. As Best Man these things fall in your lap.

This list could include the following:

-Ensuring everyone gets home safely after the reception

-Helping with any tidying that needs to be done at the venue

-Collecting and returning all hired clothing such as the usher’s morning suits

-Making sure that any outstanding payments have been made

Dom Evans is a well travelled writer who is now concentrating on utilizing his experiences in advising on the best stag do destinations. He currently works at Playaway Weekends, researching and sampling world wide stag do destinations.

Stag Weekends are a chance for a group of men to get together and have a laugh before one of them commits to the woman of his dreams, but they can end in disaster! Avoid Stag Do blunders by following these great tips on how NOT to organise a Stag Weekend!

Don’t invite the Bride! Yes we know this seems obvious but you’d be surprised! Have a chat with the Bride-To-Be beforehand, or the Head Bridesmaid, and find out what their plans are – you want to make sure both parties do not end up in the same club!

Don’t forget the Groom! Again perhaps an obvious one but try not to leave the Groom anywhere (whether that be a club or another country!). If you are planning on purposely leaving the Groom somewhere then organise the Stag Weekend well in advance of the wedding – the last thing you want is a Groom no show on the big day!

Don’t hire a stripper who turns out to be a friend of the Bride! This one is always worth checking! You never know who the Bride-To-Be may know and learning that her mate from the pub gave her Husband-To-Be a lap dance is not going to go down too well!

Don’t leave everything to the last minute! Sending everyone a Facebook message a day before the proposed Stag Weekend date will not win you any brownie points! A top class Stag Weekend should be well planned and organised down to the last detail; if you need help then take advantage of Stag Weekend organisers who can cater a weekend just for you.

Don’t let practical jokes get out of hand! Things seem funnier when you are drunk for some reason but don’t let drunken ‘good ideas’ have a damaging effect! Dying the Groom’s hair permanent blue for example will probably not go down too well with the Bride – although it would make for interesting photos!

Don’t forget the Bride! A woman scorned is a bad thing indeed and you don’t want your mate’s married life to start on a negative! Plan the Stag Weekend with the Bride’s feelings in mind – if hiring a stripper will upset her (aka make your mate’s life hell!) then avoid it.

Don’t over complicate the weekend! At the end of the day a Stag Weekend is a group of lads getting together for a knees up – it is most definitely not a regimented army routine! Plan certain activities but do not have a minute by minute diary for the weekend.

Don’t invite the Bride’s exes! Unless you all get on it is probably wise to avoid exes, especially when there is drink involved! A Stag Weekend album filled with punch up pictures isn’t going to entertain many at future family get togethers!

So there you have it; 8 ways not to mess up a Stag Do! Remember these handy tips when you organise a Stag Do; the Groom will thank you in the long run if he has a stress free time!

Dom Evans is a well travelled writer who is now concentrating on utilizing his experiences in advising on the best stag do destinations. He currently works at Playaway Weekends, researching and sampling world wide stag do destinations.

India accommodates people belonging to many religions, caste and greed. They exist with one another as good friends and foes without discrimination or racial aversions. Still, our religious roots are so strong that we are hesitant to marry our son or daughter into another caste or religion. Only a few broad minded people look do not mind a inter caste marriage.

The main reason for this aversion is the difference in the culture or belief system. People today are well educated and they don’t limit themselves to any set boundaries or categories of people. They are broad minded and don’t look at fellow human beings as a personification of a religion or caste. Although the caste system has minimized when it comes to marriage some parents are still very hesitant. It is mainly the elders in the family who cannot digest this inter caste marriage.

New generation youngsters are very broad minded and they move along with everyone irrespective of caste or greed. It so happens that they might meet someone interesting who might not belong to the same religion. But they don’t mind this difference as much as they parents would. But times are changing and parents are realizing that their kid’s happiness is more important and try to accept this change with open mind. First it is important to realize that we are all human beings basically. Our belief in God or the spiritual system might be different but we all share the same flesh and blood.

For successful marriage both the families must forget their religious differences and try to get into a common ground where they can relate to one another as humans. They should not try to push in their own beliefs with the others and mutual respect for one another’s religion is a must. Try to sit together and finalize as to how the marriage should be conducted. To avoid misunderstanding it is best to get into a registered marriage followed by an elaborate reception. No particular religious formalities need to be followed. A general wedding unbiased by religion is a smart way to avoid unnecessary tension. Some people may prefer to perform the customs from both side and marry twice to keep both side of parents and family happy. But this brings burden of extra expenditure and it is more like wasting money and effort. Some couple prefers to go with register marriage and then throw lavish reception. This defiantly reduces the expenses and may keep everyone equally happy.

Today when we look at matrimonial columns and ads it is very encouraging to see many ads with “caste no bar”, inclusion. It reflects the transformations in the minds of people who are ready to embrace all people are equals. Habits and beliefs can be altered if only we can alter our attitude in life. Today’s changing time is defiantly helpful to bring this change about. New generation is inching towards making society liberal in real sense. Wedding are made in heaven and should we now question which religion’s heaven. Times have changed and so must our attitude towards life.

Deepa Mehta writes on behalf of matrimonyhouse.com, India’s fastest growing matrimonial website. matrimonyhouse.com enables users to create and search Indian matrimony profile on the website. Registering, Searching, and Contacting prospective groom and bride are absolutely free.

In any wedding the bride has to do lot of things compared to a groom. Still there are certain things which a groom must also look into before his marriage. Today men have equal distraction like women as new designer clothing and accessories are flooding the market. Men are becoming more beauty conscious and spare time for their makeover like their female counter part.

It is the right time to refresh your wardrobe. Men are generally much unorganized and it is time they changed their ways and become more responsible and organized. Remember that the life partner is going to share his room, his belongings and so make way and clear the room to fit in her belongings too. Give your own private room a face life by getting new curtains and new furniture. Consider giving new look to your bedroom by using some dark colors and decorating it with meaningful articles. If possible take your fiancee for this personal shopping. This should also serve a good starter of your life as she may take it as your love and affection toward her. This also shows your seriousness and commitment towards new relationship.

Physical makeover is very important. It is best to get a general medical check just to make sure you are in your pinkest of health. Clean your teeth and get in to habit of brushing twice a day. Join an aerobics or yoga to bring your self in shape. Go for a great relaxing and detoxing massage and try to change your looks into more mature and manly rather than the funky teenager look. Get a beauty package with a local men’s parlor and visit them regularly for a nice make over. It is imperative because the atmosphere is polluted and your face needs a deep pore cleaning and cleansing once in a while.

Next important thing is to check your financial position before marriage. Formulate a financial plan on how you will make use of your salary after the marriage. Divide your expenses into categories like needs, necessities, savings and investment etc and then set aside a fixed percentage from your salary for these expenses. This systemized planning will be very beneficial in the long run. Finish all pending payments and sort out unfinished work load. Start saving as marriage is going to add responsibility and increase in expenditure.

If you plan to stay separate or away from the family then start looking for a decent home and try to furnish it and get it ready for occupancy after marriage. Find a place which is nearer to all basic amenities and also your office. No need to get one lavish out of budget house. Make a list of your friends whom you want to invite for your wedding and meet them in your free time to issue the invitations. Post outstation invitation well in advance or send an e-invite. Getting into a holy matrimony is a one time event in your life so try to be cheerful and spread the message of joy around you.

Deepa Mehta writes on behalf of matrimonyhouse.com, India’s fastest growing matrimonial website. matrimonyhouse.com enables users to create and search Indian matrimony profile on the website. Registering, Searching, and Contacting prospective groom and bride are absolutely free.

A million dollar question, what makes a perfect bride, has no specify answer. But then her actions, attitude and character can identify her as a perfect bride in the long run. But then we are not going to talk about the features, or formula which can identify a perfect bride. Let us list out the most important things the bride must have before or on her wedding day.

As soon as the engagement is fixed she should enroll with a good beautician and start her beauty regime from head to foot. And she must also change her diet and have a balanced and nourishing food. Drink lots of water and exercise to keep fit. The next step is to sort out her belongings and choose what to keep and what to give away for charity. Clearing cluster is a good way to find long lost things too ironically. You never know what all you will get from under the piles of clothes and shoes piled in the cupboard.

Write down on paper the things that you will take to your in-laws including the details of the jewels and other precious jewellery. Carefully file your certificates and other documents which you might need for job or other purposes. Don’t forget to include your family photographs which will be a great solace when you are home sick. You may want to take some of your old toys, books, favorite cloths along with you. They will serve a starter for you as well as keep you emotionally worm and close to your mother’s home.

Shop only for what you don’t have. Don’t try to pile everything in one go. Buy only what you will need the most. Neatly pack and list them as you purchase. Try to get good books on matrimony or family care as it will give you an idea of what to expect and how to tackle. Learn basic cooking and try to include a special signature dish which you can make and impress the in-laws. Reading or getting some information on physical and physiological changes after marriage should be good as it will prepare you for the things going to come in your life soon. Your mother and best friends can be your first source of information. Rather than taking all the information as is try to understand the meaning of them and use it wisely according to your situation.

Try to keep in touch with all your friends and invite them personally for your wedding. Get their contact numbers and promise to keep in touch. Many women lose contact with their dear friends the moment they get married. You can also try to fix up a date once in a while for a get together. In internet age now there is lots of way to share photos online and communicate with friends. This may be your best way to keep touch with your friends. Last but not least keep smiling and be cheerful and have a positive outlook of life always. As our elders say there is no big ornament for a woman than a happy smile.

Deepa Mehta writes on behalf of matrimonyhouse.com, India’s fastest growing matrimonial website. matrimonyhouse.com enables users to create and search Indian matrimony profile on the website. Registering, Searching, and Contacting prospective groom and bride are absolutely free.

Afraid of your marriage? You might ask. But, there are people who do not want to talk about it and shut their ears on hearing the word marriage. Why do they fear marriage or what factors drove them to develop such an aversion towards marriage. For any human nature they might be a number of reasons like family, limitations, conditioning, and experience etc.

With some personal observation in society some people learn the hard lesson or get the negative impact of marriage. Marriages are made in heaven no doubt. But some marriages turn out to be hell because of various reasons. Some youngsters take these examples very seriously and fear to get married, thinking that their life might also be the same.

But this is not true and it is unpractical and illogical. We create our own live situations and it is not the fault of the bride or the groom. It is a very immature reasoning on the part of some youngsters today. Many feel that their freedom will be lost and they dread the idea of having a nagging wife around them 24/7. This thought is again influenced by television, movies and other media, which project woman as nagging housewives.

Someone might fear to get married due to some serious issues. They might have some psychological issues or health problems which might have instilled a fear for marriage. Kids learn from parents more and hence when a mom and father is always fighting and beating one another, it might create a negative impact and fear in the mind of the child watching them. Many are anxious and have a fear for the unknown.

You should determine what exactly you are scared of. Most people don’t fear marriage itself but rather, its implications and its potential failure or loss of freedum. One must understand that secumtanses keeps changing and so does people. What you think wrong today may be right tommorow. Address your fears. If your parents had a bad marriage the try to understand the issues behind that. You must understand that every marriage is different, and just because some wasn’t successful doesn’t mean yours can’t be. If you’re worried about the marriage falling apart or loosing your freedum, then make a list in your mind of what you can and will do to make the marriage work. Imagine all the scenarios that make you scared and then, try to imagine what you will do in that specific situation to make it better.

A good counselor should be able to guide someone who has this fear for marriages. They can point out the pros and cons of a marriage and then give valuable advice on how to overcome this fear and start a happily wedded life. All said and done the person must first trust this oldest institution called marriage. Only trust can drive fear away and allow tem to make a decision on whether to get married or not. Fearing marriage is baseless and with some mature understanding of this system life can be very fulfilling.

Deepa Mehta writes on behalf of matrimonyhouse.com, India’s fastest growing matrimonial website. matrimonyhouse.com enables users to create and search Indian matrimony profile on the website. Registering, Searching, and Contacting prospective groom and bride are absolutely free.

Every parent dreams about their children’s getting married to reach, educated and well settled family. Parents only want to find the best match for their children. When they look for a possible match they look at the long term benefit and security of their daughter or son. Especially the bride’s side is very cautious and alert while looking for a suitable groom. Many parents are very ambitious and look for grooms who live outside India. They feel the NRI groom is well settled in a foreign land and decides that their daughter will have a luxurious life in a far off land.

NRI marriage is not easy. There are many stories about NRI wedding. Many have been successful but some had problems. Still it is all about what the parents expect from a NRI groom or bride. Many families living in foreign lands still prefer their children to find an Indian bride who will understand their culture and give respect to the family. But that doesn’t mean other Indians who live among them have lost their culture. They may have adapted western culture in their day to day lifestyle but in their hart still be having respect and pride for Indian culture.

The bride’s parents should make all kinds of enquiry about the financial position of the groom in the foreign land. His assets, credits or any debt should also be enquired through a third person. Double caution should be exercised while searching for NRI grooms, as it is possible for the groom to hide facts or give faulty information. One may ask for credit burro report to check any possible debt and default history. Only real assets like property and savings should take in account while calculating net asset of the groom. Most of the time depreciating asset like car or other vehicle is use to inflate the financial position.

If groom is in US find out if he is going to settle there permanently or have plans to shift to India in the future. Many brides might want to settle there and thus this information is very important. Some grooms might even have gone there on H1 visa. Another important verification is to get a medical certificate which will ensure he is free from deadly diseases. You can never know his type of life style and one must be very sure before making a decision. You may also want to know his dependant family life style and obligations to draw correct financial picture.

Most important is to make sure that the bride is ok with the idea of living in an alien land and the prolonged delay in coming back home only once in few years. If she is going to be home sick or immature enough to handle such situation it is best to review the NRI groom. The bride must be bold enough to handle herself well courageously and must have the basic qualification and education to at least understand what is happening around her. Make a careful choice and always move forward only when you are comfortable with the details and the information provided.

Deepa Mehta writes on behalf of matrimonyhouse.com, India’s fastest growing matrimonial website. matrimonyhouse.com enables users to create and search Indian matrimony profile on the website. Registering, Searching, and Contacting prospective groom and bride are absolutely free.