Surprise More Couples Opt For Surprise Weddings

A growing trend these days is the surprise wedding. Couples who don’t want to get tied up the planning process are opting instead to throw surprise weddings with family and friends. Couples usually use the ruse of an informal party, engagement party or shower, and surprise guests with a wedding instead.

The surprise wedding eschews the traditional planning, and is often a small, casual affair. It offers the couple a way to keep the wedding plan simple, while maximizing the use of holiday time, and minimizing the cost. Often, the bride and groom inform a few close friends. In other cases, everyone is in the dark.

Recently, celebrities including Julia Roberts, Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z, Steve Martin, Usher, Mariah Carey, and Seal and Heidi Klum have all opted for surprise weddings. While celebrities typically choose surprise weddings to throw off the paparazzi, ordinary couples are more interested in taking advantage of a particular time or event where many of their friends will be gathered anyway in order to reduce costs, or celebrate two events at once.

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World Heavyweight Vows To Stand On His Wedding Day

Manuel Uribe, who at 1,235 pounds, holds the world record for human weight, is aiming for another record: the world’s largest weight loss. The Mexican-born mechanic has already lost 560 pounds and is hoping to lose enough to allow him to stand on his wedding day.

Uribe drew worldwide attention when he made a desperate plea for help in January 2006. At that time, he had been bedridden for five years. Although he is still confined to his bed, he has been on a high-protein diet and does arm exercises, which have helped him lose 45 percent of his body weight. His goal is to pare down to 250 pounds.

Uribe is engaged to a hairdresser whom he met four years ago. Claudia Solis, Mr. Uribe’s fiancée, says she looks forward to the day when Manuel can stand on his own. Uribe has a television and a computer in his room, which he uses to update his Web site. Uribe says he has always had problems with his weight, and that they were exacerbated by a junk food-laden diet he went on when he lived in the US. A poorly performed liposuction procedure has also left Mr. Uribe with large tumors on both legs.

The couple has not set a date for their wedding, but Mr. Uribe is hoping the couple can marry this year.

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Electronic Wedding Invitations

The debate over wedding invitations has shifted from proper wording and addressing to whether or not electronic invitations are the wave of the future or just plain tacky. Couples are beginning to design all-electronic invitations to weddings. In addition, some couples are also using social networking sites like Facebook to deliver wedding invitations to friends and family.

What does a wedding invitation mean and is an electronic invitation the same thing as a paper one? Most wedding planners and etiquette mavens agree: save the electronic invitations for informal parties and stick with paper for events like weddings.

While most people have access to computers and email, electronic invitations simply don’t convey the same sense of importance that a mailed wedding invitation does. Electronic invitations can be made to include photos of the couple, audio and video recordings, and more. And, of course, they hold all the same information that a wedding invitation does, but they’re simply not as formal.

How do guests respond? Some guests don’t mind the electronic invitations. They fit into the guest’s lifestyle, so they see no problem with it. Others are horrified by the approach, labeling it tacky and cheap. Still other guests respond by not responding at all. In an era where people may receive hundreds of emails daily, trusting that your wedding invitation will stand out from the crowd may be a major risk. There’s always the possibility that your wedding invitation will be filed among the spam emails and advertising junk.

Experienced wedding planners are almost universal in their disdain for electronic invitations. While they may be the wave of the future, experts agree that most people still want to see wedding invitations in the Post!

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Gay Marriage Front And Center In The UK And USA

Dr. Martin Dudley, vicar at St. Bartholomew the Great in London has reportedly officiated at a gay marriage between two male Anglican priests. The ceremony, which was similar to the Anglican wedding rite in the Book of Common Prayer, also featured an exchange of rings and confetti.

The Bishop of London has asked for an investigation of the event, and said that neither the Diocese of London nor the Church of England offers public blessings for civil partnerships. One of the men has returned to his New Zealand home, and the other plans to move to New Zealand shortly. The Rt. Rev. David Moxon, the Bishop of Waikato, NZ, issued a joint statement with one of the men involved saying that the priest had resigned his clergy license upon arrival in New Zealand.

More than 300 bishops in the Church of England are meeting in the Holy Land this week as part of a regular decennial meeting. The subject of gay marriage within the Church of England is expected to spark heated debate, as it did in 2005 when the Episcopal Church in the US, which is nominally part of the Anglican Communion, ordained an openly gay bishop. No policy decisions are expected to emerge from the meeting.

Gay marriage takes center stage in California this week because the State Supreme Court there struck down a law that narrowly defined marriage as an agreement between one man and one woman. In the ruling, the State Supreme Court indicated that June 17 would be the first day in which gay couples could take advantage of the state’s decision to recognise gay marriage. In response, officials in conservative Kern and Butte Counties in California say they will stop performing civil ceremonies altogether until further notice. The counties will issue gender-neutral marriage licenses, as required by state law.

Massachusetts is the only other state in the US to recognise gay marriage. Connecticut offers gay civil unions, and New York State says it will not authorise gay marriages but will recognise those performed in other states where gay marriage is legal. Gay marriages are also recognised in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, and Spain.

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California Nonagenarians Tie The Knot

A California couple, both 95, tied the knot in Camarillo last week in front of 200 guests. Bernice Jenkins and Wallis Richard knew each other casually, but began dating after they had both moved into Leisure Village, a retirement community in town.

Richard proposed marriage on their first date, but Jenkins turned him down. He persisted and over the next 18 months won Bernice’s heart. She changed her mind about Richard’s wedding proposal after she celebrated her 95th birthday in February.

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her two sons, and the groom’s two sons acted as his groomsmen. The ceremony was officiated by Richard’s daughter and her husband, both Baptist preachers. The couple entertained family and friends at a reception, which was planned by both the couple and their children.

The bride and groom will take a three-day honeymoon in an undisclosed location, and then it’s back to Leisure Village. The couple will retain both of their homes and alternate the time spent in each place. They have no prenuptial agreement but plan to keep their finances separate.

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Make The Most Of Your Wedding Budget

You’re planning a wedding but you can’t afford everything you want. Welcome to life! There are so many decisions to make and so little time in which to make them. When everything associated with weddings costs so much, how can you ensure that you get the wedding you want?

Wedding planners agree that the best way to save money on a wedding is to prioritize the areas in which you want to spend your money, and don’t be afraid to let some things slide. By breaking down your wedding into spending categories, you can quickly determine where you want to put your financial effort.

If having great food or entertainment at the reception is important, then you can adjust your spending in other areas to make sure you get the reception experience you want. On the other hand, if having a beautiful gown is at the top of your list, then spending less in another area that’s not as important to you can help you get the dress of your dreams.

Some experts counsel brides-to-be to choose the five most important elements of their wedding and let the rest go. This approach can help you remain focused on your spending priorities, and not get caught in the trap of spending a lot on things that don’t matter so much.

Areas in which brides can save the most include having the wedding on a day other than Saturday, and taking steps to control liquor and food costs. Brides can also have “off-season” weddings, when venues are easier to book and costs are lower.

Longer planning cycles give brides time to make better decisions, and spend less money in the process. Nothing inflates the cost of a wedding like having to make a hasty decision. With more time to plan, brides can research more options, take advantage of sales and get better pricing on goods and services.

Organization goes a long way toward cutting costs, too! Keep all of your wedding receipts, contracts and ideas bound together in a “wedding binder.” The binder should travel with you when making the rounds, so you can easily compare prices and services, and will be less tempted to sign on the dotted line without weighing other options.

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Couples Look For Wedding Savings To Quell Financial Jitters

Couples planning their weddings are now looking carefully at their finances before agreeing to spend thousands on their wedding plans. While the well-to-do have not curbed their appetites for extravagance, couples of more ordinary means are looking for ways to save on the cost of tying the knot.

Where can you save the most? Typically, brides who reduce their guest lists also reduce their wedding budgets. Smaller weddings allow the bridal couple to spend more time with their guests while spending less money on the venue, food and liquor. If size matters, go with a larger guest list and a cocktail reception instead.

Popular advice making the rounds these days is to save on invitations. In the grand scheme of things, cutting the invitation budget won’t give much of a bump to your bottom line. These days, high-quality and custom invitations are available for less than ever before, and brides have hundreds of designs to choose from. A better bottom line boost comes from cutting down on the use of fresh flowers at weddings. Flowers can easily run into the thousands and last only a few days. Skip the flowers altogether, rent greenery or use silk arrangements instead.

Another great save? Use an elegant bridesmaid’s dress as a wedding dress. Bridesmaids dresses can often be special ordered in white, off-white, gold or silver. Even as a special order, you’ll still save a bundle on a beautiful dress for your wedding. Bridesmaids’ dresses can be bought “off-the-rack” in fabrics, styles and colours that are more flattering and less expensive. For a little flair, try going with complementary colours instead of matching ones, and let your bridesmaids pick out their own shoes.

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Greg Norman And Chris Evert Reportedly Planning A Million Dollar Wedding

Greg Norman and Chris Evert will reportedly wed in a $1M wedding in the Bahamas in late June. The wedding will be held at the One and Only Ocean Club Hotel, recently featured in the latest James Bond remake of Casino Royale. For the wedding, Norman and Evert have reportedly booked the entire hotel.

The pair will entertain as many as 400 guests, including former US presidents George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton. Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Cartwright are also on the A-list.

The couple announced their engagement last December. Evert married tennis star John Lloyd in 1979. They divorced in 1987. In 1988, Evert married Olympic skier, Andy Mill. They divorced in 2006, after 18 years of marriage and have three sons.

Norman has purchased the former home of Randolph Hearst in Florida, a 52-room seaside mansion in Palm Beach and is expected to make his home with Evert there. Ms. Evert currently runs an exclusive professional tennis coaching business and lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

Norman, who recently entered a $250 million divorce settlement with his first wife Laura, was married for 26 years.

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Price Of Gold Spurs Change To Arab Wedding Traditions

For most Arab brides, it’s inconceivable to marry without wearing a stunning collection of gold jewellery. Gold is a traditional part of the Arab wedding scene, and babies are often given gold as gifts.

Inflation and the high price of gold on the commodities market are eating into the Arab appetite for gold. Some jewellers report that their sales are down more than 70% from just three years ago.

Brides typically acquire gold jewellery as part of their shabka – a collection of gold finery that is purchased with money from the dowry she receives from the groom. At minimum, the shabka consists of a necklace, earrings and a bracelet, and often contains much more.

Lately, couples who plan to marry can’t afford gold jewellery because the price of gold is about AUD $1,100 per ounce, which substantially exceeds the average monthly income. From all indications, gold prices may even double from their current levels. To compensate, couples are skipping the shabka until gold prices come down.

Using another metal like silver is simply not an option for many traditionalists. Although the price of silver is much more affordable, it is considered a cheap metal and brides would rather borrow or rent gold jewellery for the ceremony than accept a silver shabka.

Privately, however, jewellery store owners report that silver sales have increased by as much as 60 percent since the price of gold soared. Store owners are being very careful to identify silver jewellery to prevent customers from mistaking it for white gold.

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Jessica Alba Planning A Second Wedding

Actress Jessica Alba, who married Warren Cash in a secret civil ceremony last week, is reportedly planning a larger ceremony for friends and family, according to Alba’s brother. The couple wed at the Beverly Hills courthouse on May 19, just minutes after applying for a marriage license. The couple invited no family members or other guests to the event, which caught Alba’s family by surprise.

According to Alba’s brother, Josh, the couple plan to hold a larger ceremony for their families and friends at a later date. Alba, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, had previously indicated that they would wait until after the baby was born to marry. The pair first announced their engagement last December. Alba is best known for her work in the television programme Dark Angel, The Fantastic Four series, Good Luck Chuck and The Ten, will also appear two summer movies: Meet Bill and The Love Guru. Mr. Cash served as a director’s assistant on the most recent Fantastic Four film.

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Pakistan Cuts Down On Wedding Feasts

If you’re looking for a way to cut down on the cost of a wedding, consider having it in Pakistan. The government in Punjab has begun to enforce a law first enacted in the 1990’s that limits wedding receptions to a single entrée and a few “appropriate” side dishes, like rice. When originally passed, the law forbade food of any kind, but allowed wedding guests to celebrate with soft drinks and tea.

By tradition, Pakistani weddings span several days and may include hundreds of guests. Even the poorest families feel honour-bound to throw a lavish wedding, and many begin saving for a wedding day immediately after a child is born. Families can spend multiple years’ incomes on a lavish wedding for a child. As the cost of food rose in the country, the Pakistani government was moved to enact the legislation to give a break to poor families, without making them feel humiliated by not being able to meet social customs.

Until recently the law was not strictly enforced because it runs completely counter to tradition. Newspaper advertisements by the government warn families to observe the law. Families risk substantial fines for disobedience. The government has begun enforcement in Punjab, the country’s most populated state, and is encouraging everyone to report violations. While wedding planners profess to be delighted by the law, they say that enforcement will simply push the wedding feasts into private homes instead.

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Rooney-McLoughlin Guests To Release Butterflies At Wedding

Media reports say that UK footballer Wayne Rooney and his soon-to-be wife Colleen McLoughlin plan to have their guests release butterflies from handmade wooden boxes at the site of their wedding. The wedding has a butterfly theme and will take place at the site of a former Benedictine monastery built in 1381.

The couple will marry in a civil ceremony in Cheshire a week prior to the Italian nuptials because the monastery they’ve chosen is not recognised as a Catholic wedding venue. The civil ceremony will ensure that the pair have a legal marriage. McLoughlin and Rooney will have their civil marriage convalidated by a Catholic priest at the monastery site.

The monastery, which sits on a hill between Portofino and Santa Margherita, was also the site of Rod Stewart’s most recent wedding. Guests of the McLoughlin-Rooney wedding will be treated to a pre-wedding dinner the evening before the ceremony. The reception will be held on a luxury yacht. The multi-day celebration will also include a stop at the La Cervara national monument. The wedding is believed to be scheduled for June 14. It is the first marriage for both.

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Charlie Sheen Marries For The Third Time

Actor Charlie Sheen, 42, married his fiancée, Brooke Mueller on May 30. The pair have been engaged since last summer. Ms. Mueller, 30, a real estate investor, married in a private ceremony in front of about sixty guests at a Los Angeles estate.

The bride wore a Reem Arca gown at the low-key ceremony. Sheen is the son of actor Martin Sheen and the brother of actor Emilio Estevez. He is currently seen in the television comedy Two and A Half Men, but has also appeared in more than sixty Hollywood movies and television programmes.

Sheen’s parents, Martin and Janet, and brother Emilio, attended the wedding, along with his children Sam and Lola from his stormy marriage to Denise Richards. Other guests included Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, who introduced the couple about two years ago.

This is the first marriage for Ms. Mueller, and the third for Mr. Sheen. Prior to his marriage to Ms. Richards, which ended in divorce in 2006, Mr. Sheen was also married briefly to model Donna Peele. The couple divorced about six months into the marriage.

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Bridesmaid Stops Runaway Limousine

A Todd County, Minnesota couple and their wedding party received the scare of a lifetime while in the back of the couple’s wedding car. The driver of the couple’s limousine had what would prove to be a fatal heart attack while driving the wedding party to the couple’s pre-wedding celebration on Friday, May 23.

An observant bridesmaid in the back of the limousine realised that the driver was stricken and crawled through the car to reach the driver. She was able to take over at the wheel and bring the wedding car to a stop without injury. The other passengers, including the rest of the wedding party, the bride and groom were uninjured.

The party determined that the driver was having a heart attack and summoned the police and an ambulance for assistance. Members of the wedding party performed CPR on the driver at the side of the road as they waited for medical help to arrive. Although the driver was taken to hospital for further treatment, he died later that night.

There was no word on whether the wedding party made it to their original destination.

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Prince Joachim of Denmark Marries Marie Cavallier

Prince Joachim of Denmark married Marie Cavallier in an evening ceremony on May 24 at the Møgeltønder Church in southwestern Jutland. Cavallier, who hails from France, was escorted down the aisle by her father, Allain. The Cavalliers met Prince Joachim and his two sons, Nikolai and Felix, at the altar. Joachim is fourth in line to the Danish throne, the oldest monarchy in Europe.

The bride, 32, wore a white Arasa Morelli Calais lace-and-tulle dress with a 10-foot train inspired by 19th century designs. Upon her marriage, she was given the title of Princess, and will be known as Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat. Marie became a Danish citizen and converted to the Lutheran Evangelical Church from Roman Catholicism to marry the Prince.

Members of the royal families of Denmark, Sweden and Norway attended the ceremony, including Queen Margarethe and Prince Hendrik, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon. Actor Roger Moore was also an invited guest. After the ceremony, guests of the royal couple enjoyed a dinner reception at Schackenbørg Castle. The dinner menu included fjord shrimps, turbot with scallops and beef tenderloin. Guests were also treated to the couple’s octagonal, eight-tiered wedding, decorated with small marzipan crowns, French lilies and blown-sugar birds.

This is the first marriage for the former Ms. Cavallier. Prince Joachim was previously married to Princess Alexandra, now the Countess of Frederiksbørg. The couple will make their residence at Schackenbørg Castle, where Prince Joachim has lived since 1993.

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