Texas Sheriff Returns Wedding Ring Found After 36 Years

A ranch hand in Kerrville, Texas in the US discovered a wedding ring at the site of a 1972 helicopter crash and turned his find over to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office. After some investigation, Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer found that the ring had once been worn by Staff Sergeant Bruce Dunn, who was one of two US Army Reservists killed in a helicopter crash while on a flight from Corpus Christi, Texas to El Paso, Texas.

Hierholzer was able to locate Linda Sue Sasser, who had been Dunn’s wife at the time of the accident. After she identified the ring by the inscription inside the band, Hierholzer returned it to her at her present residence in the state of Utah. Sasser thanked Hierholzer for providing her and her family with closure for an event that she described as “horrific.”

Dunn and another reservist, Jerome Green, were killed in the crash, which happened on March 1, 1972. The couple had no children and Sasser remarried about five years after the accident. Hierholzer was able to locate Dunn with the help of a few volunteers who scoured Internet ancestry sites for information about Dunn. Sasser had added her first husband’s information to an online family tree just two months before the ring was discovered. In addition to the ring, Hierholzer also forwarded two coins and parts of a watch that were found with the ring at the crash site.

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Bride Surprised By Wedding

Kara Patterson, 20, a gymnastics coach attended a tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, never dreaming that the day would end with her being married in front of about 1,000 spectators. Patterson, who had been engaged to Army Staff Sargeant Ray Hignite, was the surprise guest at her own wedding on December 20, before the crowd at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

Hignite recently learned that he was being shipped out to Afghanistan on January 1 and wanted to surprise his fiancée with a wedding. He worked with his and her family to pull together the last-minute affair, complete with a horse-drawn carriage. The ceremony lasted about ten minutes, and the crowd cheered throughout. Patterson’s father, Brett, who was in on the surprise, said that his daughter had always wanted a big wedding.

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City Of Ottawa Considers Its Wedding Options

The City of Ottawa has seen a steady increase in the number of couples that are opting for civil weddings. In the past, couples in the Canadian capital could marry before a justice of the peace. The increased workload of the court brought a halt to that practice, but in 2004, the City of Ottawa authorised the city’s clerks to perform civil wedding ceremonies.

Since that time, the number of civil weddings has grown and the City now performs nearly 1,000 weddings each year. The wedding facilities are very small and accommodate only 10 people, including the participants and the clerk.

Not wanting to compete with ministers in Ottawa, the city clerks’ offices don’t allow customisation of the wedding ceremony. The cost of a civil ceremony is CDN$145 if the ceremony is performed during business hours, and CDN$258 if the couple wants to exchange vows after hours or on Saturdays. Rush weddings will run CDN$325 with a $145 marriage license fee tacked on.

Due to the volume of wedding requests, and complaints from couples who want more space for families and friends, the Ottawa City Clerk, Pierre Pagé says he will look carefully at City Hall to see if a space that can accommodate 30 people can be found.

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Demand For Diamonds Up, Pushes Costs Up Nearly Ten Percent

A report by a diamond industry analyst says that buyers can expect to pay as much as 10 percent more for diamonds this year. Demand for half-carat diamonds is unusually strong, and is outpacing the current supply. The wholesale price of a half-carat diamond will be about USD$2,500, and buyers can expect to pay more for the setting.

Worldwide demand for polished diamonds is expected to double by 2016, and is expected to outstrip mining production substantially. Mining production is expected to grow to about 20 million carats annually, or about 50% more than current production levels.

In addition to the cost of diamonds, consumers can also expect to pay higher prices for gold and other precious metals. Like diamonds, the supply of gold has not been keeping pace with demand. Investors are also buying gold as a hedge against inflation. Platinum, another metal growing in popularity for jewellery, is currently selling high and is expected to maintain its value into 2009.

None of this bodes well for the couples who are seeking wedding jewellery in 2008 and 2009.

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New York Couple Sues Hotels Over Lawn Sprinkler Wedding Disaster

A couple who married last summer is suing a Brooklyn New York hotel over an outdoor wedding disaster Svetlana and Yuriy Orishchenko say could have been prevented. As the bride made her way down the aisle in front of all her guests, the hotel’s lawn sprinklers deployed, sending water sprays all over the wedding guests.

One group of guests on the right side of the set up were drenched when the sprinklers turned on unexpectedly. The guests quickly moved over to the left side of the wedding area, when another set of sprinklers turned on and everyone was hosed down. The hotel staff didn’t get the sprinklers turned off for 15 to 20 minutes.

The hotel owners says he tried to make up for the disaster, sending employees out with towels for the guests, and even offering the couple $5,000. The Orischenkos are suing for $300,000. The wedding party itself wasn’t doused and the wedding did go on after the wedding site was mopped up. No one is sure why the sprinklers went off when they did, but the hotel owner says he thinks that control box for the system was struck by lightning a few days before the wet wedding.

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Pakistan’s Wedding Business Picks Up After Eid Al Fitr

Now that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has concluded, shops are abuzz as Pakistan’s wedding season has begun. Shops are reporting brisk business for wedding clothing and jewelry, with white gold and diamonds being among the favorite jewellery choices. Replica jewellery is also in high demand due to the high cost of gold and diamonds.

Invitation printers are also working around the clock to meet the demand for wedding invitations. While most invitations are being printed on paper and cardstock, some couples are opting for exotic invitations on velvet or leather. The wedding business is expected to stay brisk until Eid Al Adha, which falls on 8 December in 2008.

Regardless of your religious affiliation, Kardella has a wide selection of invitations to choose from. Our designs include traditional, modern and everything in between. You can also find custom invitations, unusual, eye-catching colours and exceptional paper stocks, all at excellent prices.

Visit our online catalogue today. Samples are available at the listed per-unit cost and postage is on us when mailed to an Australian address. Visit us today and see why so many brides prefer to use Kardella for their wedding stationery needs.

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Aquarium Offers Wedding Giveaway

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida is giving away a free wedding for up to 100 guests on Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Saturday this year. The aquarium will provide an ordained minister to perform the ceremony, and aquarium officials say that resident dolphins Winter and Nicholas will participate in the ceremony.

The package includes the use of the facility, sparkling wine for all of the guests, a wedding dress and tuxedo, wedding cake, cookies, photography flowers and a one-night stay in a local hotel. Couples are responsible for their own travel to and from the facility. The contest, open only to US residents, drew 77 entries .Entering couples were asked to submit a photograph of themselves and an essay explaining why they should receive the prize package.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium operates a marine animal rescue and rehabilitation center, as well as educational programs for visitors both in-person and via the Internet. The Aquarium will announce the winning couple on 20 January.

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Sales Of Engagement Rings Higher At Small Jewellers

The Jewelers of America Association reports that sales of diamond engagement and wedding rings are sluggish at large retailers, while small jewellers are seeing strong sales. Overall, spending on engagement rings in the US is expected to top $6 billion in 2008 and spending on wedding bands will add another $2 billion.

The differential can be attributed to the personalised service that customers receive at smaller boutiques. In addition, smaller boutiques are more likely to employ jewellers who fashion the rings on the premises, giving the buyer greater control over the quality of the gems used in the rings, the design and the price. Larger retailers, on the other hand, are more likely to sell pre-fabricated rings that don’t provide the customer with many options to balance the size and quality of the stone with the buyer’s budget.

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Michigan Woman Chooses 92-Year-Old Grandmum To Be Matron Of Honour

Erica Schultz, a Bay City, Michigan woman, will marry on 18 October with her best friend and matron of honour at her side. Angelene Schultz, 92, will act as the bride-elect’s official witness for the ceremony, as Erica marries her long-time fiancé, Mark James.

The couple stopped by Gran’s house on the way home from their first date in 2001. According to the bride, Angelene bought a house down the street from one of her sons when her own husband died, and has been active in her five children’s and fifteen grandchildren’s lives ever since. Erica, 26, visits Angelene every day to get her mail and monitor Angelene’s prescription medication.

In addition to playing an important role in her grandchildren’s lives, Angelene has also been active in the wedding planning process. She helped Erica choose her wedding gown and picked out a red dress for herself. Angelene says that being in the wedding party is a big honour and she’s delighted to be part of Erica’s big day.

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Runaway Bride Plans More Conventional Wedding Entrance

Sophie Clarke, the Bretforton, Worcestershire bride whose wedding plans were dashed last month when the horse drawing her church-bound carriage dashed off after being spooked in traffic, has organised new plans that involve a more conventional mode of transportation: a good old fashioned limousine.

Clarke and her father were left alone and helpless in the runaway rig after the coachman and his assistant were both jettisoned when the horse bolted. The horse took the pair on a dangerous ride that included railroad tracks and collisions with passing motorcars. At one point, Clarke’s father pulled his daughter back into the cart after she was nearly thrown out. It was then that the elder Clarke made the decision to throw his daughter and himself out of the cart as the horse approached a sharp curve in the road.

The not-to-be bride suffered a concussion, cuts, bruises and a black eye. Her father was similarly injured. Both have recovered from the wild ride, and Clarke has reset a January wedding date. She says that the incident has made her realise just what’s most important in life and adds that despite giving up a wedding that was two years in the planning, she feels lucky to be alive.

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German Police Foil African Wedding Trip

Police in Hanover Germany put an end to the wedding plans of two childhood friends, mainly because the prospective bride and groom were just 5 and 6 years old. On New Years Eve, as their parents celebrated the holiday, the pair watched a documentary about Africa on television. As the programme aired, the two hatched a plot to marry in Africa.

The next morning, as their parents slept in, the two children packed their bags and headed off to the airport, along with the bride-to-be’s seven year-old sister. The group left home at sunrise and caught an early morning tram to Hanover’s central station. A guard at the station noted the group – sans adult supervision – and notified the police.

Two officers arrived and convinced the travelers that they would not be able to get to Africa because they had no money for plane tickets. Instead, the group accompanied the officers back to police headquarters and toured that facility while they waited for their parents to pick them up.

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Actor Woody Harrelson Marries Long-Time Girlfriend

Actor Woody Harrelson, known for his role as Woody Boyd in the US television programme Cheers, and films including White Men Can’t Jump, Money Train, Natural Born Killers, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Wag the Dog, The Thin Red Line, and No Country For Old Men, wed Laura Louie, his girlfriend of twenty years, in Hawaii over the Christmas holiday.

The couple wed in a ceremony in Hawaii on 28 December, attended by the couple’s family and friends. Reportedly, Owen Wilson, Sean Penn, Willie Nelson and Alanis Morissette attended the traditional Hawaiian wedding near the couple’s home in Kipahulu, on the island of Maui.

Morissette is said to have performed at the wedding and also served as the maid of honour. The bride wore a white dress for the occasion. The groom wore a Hawaiian print shirt. The couple have three daughters together. This is the second marriage for Mr. Harrelson. He was married briefly to Nancy Simon, daughter of playwright Neil Simon.

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Questions To Ask When Booking Your Reception

If you’re planning a traditional wedding with a reception, the best advice for the bride-to-be is “book early!” If you are set upon marrying on a specific date, you may need to book your venue a year or two in advance. The same is true for brides who want to marry in a specific place, but can be flexible about the date. Popular venues often book a year or more in advance. Simply hoping to get a spot on the calendar could leave you waiting for months.

If you plan to have your wedding ceremony at a different site, you’ll need to coordinate the wedding and the reception. If your ceremony and the reception are separated by more than an hour or two, you may need to provide additional entertainment or meals for guests from out of town. You can avoid the headache by having your wedding and reception at the same location.

Early on in the planning process, work out a wedding budget. List your priorities carefully and stick to them to avoid “cost creep.” Even small changes can send the wedding budget spiraling out of control. Instead of aiming for the biggest, best, or most, figure out what will make you and your spouse-to-be happy and go from there.

Before committing to a reception venue, do a little detective work on the real cost of having an event there. Don’t assume that your per-plate or per-guest cost is the only thing you need to worry about. You’ll also pay rental for the space, and added fees for linens, table service, chairs, sound system support, valet parking, and catering support, like cake-cutting. The venue may also have restrictions on decorations, catering, and more.

Hotels are likely to offer the bride and groom a break on their room if a certain number of guests also book rooms for the wedding. If you don’t make your minimum guest limit, you could also end up paying hundreds of dollars for a room for the night.

Before signing on for a venue, ask to visit when the facility is set up for a wedding of similar size to the one you’re planning. You’ll be able to see immediately whether there’s enough room for your guests to move around with tables, chairs, a bar, bandstand, and cake and gift tables.

Finally, check the parking lot to make sure there’s sufficient space for your guests. An empty lot isn’t very revealing. Drive past the facility while an event is in progress to see if the lot has enough room, or if guests must park and walk to the site.

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Design Students Create Dream Wedding Dress For Military Bride

Design students at the International Academy of Design and Technology have created a completely original wedding dress as a gift for retired army Captain Riane Nelson. Nelson and her fiancé married in a quick wedding ceremony on 24 January in Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple met in Iraq, where she was a nurse and her fiancé, still serving, is a combat medic.

The dress design was part of a sketch contest that the students held. Nelson picked out a few sketches she liked, but until the dress fitting, she had never seen the final creation. The students were also challenged because they did not have regular access to Nelson. The dress was built on a mannequin set to Nelson’s approximate measurements. The material for the dress was donated, but would have cost about USD$1,000. In addition, The students put in hundreds of hours on the dress.

Nelson’s fiancé, Alastaire Addie flew in from Iraq on 23 January and the couple will fly back to Germany after the wedding. Addie’s assignment in Iraq does not end for a few more months, and Nelson will work in Germany until the couple can be reunited.

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Celebrity Weddings Are In The Works

Love must be in the air because so many celebrity couples are planning their weddings. Nickelodeon actress Jamie Lynn Spears shocked the industry just more than a year ago when the then-16-year-old actress announced that she was expecting a baby. The star of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 said at the time that she and the baby’s father, Casey Aldridge, would get married after the baby was born. Now it seems that Spears’ wedding plans are set to take off. Spears is rumoured to have purchased a wedding gown designed by Monique Lhuillier, has ordered invitations and has chosen a three-tiered chocolate wedding cake. Spears left Hollywood following the series finale of Zoey 101 and lives in Liberty, Mississippi with Aldridge and their daughter.

In other celebrity wedding news, Australian actress Isla Fisher, who is engaged to comedic actor Sacha Baron Cohen, says that the couple will not sell pictures of their wedding to magazines. Fisher says the couple will have a small ceremony attended only by family and close friends. She says that no date or location has been set, but that the couple’s celebrity has made the wedding “very difficult to plan.” The couple have a one-year-old daughter.

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Plumber Retrieves Woman’s 7-Carat Diamond

The use of a restaurant’s bathroom is typically free, but one California woman’s trip to the restroom set her back nearly USD$6,500. Allison Berry used the restroom at the Black Bear Diner in Tempe, Arizona, her 7-carat diamond ring valued at USD$70,000 fell into the toilet. City workers tried to retrieve the gem from the sewer system, but failed. Ms. Berry was visiting Arizona and was understandably unwilling to part with her ring without a good fight.

In a last-chance effort to retrieve the ring, the city called in Mr. Rooter, a local plumber with a video scope, typically used to assess the insides of piping and underground sewers. Mike Roberts, of Mr. Rooter, arrived on the scene and put the camera to work, scoping out possible locations for the ring.

After eight hours of jackhammering, and the removal of several pipes, the ring was recovered, and after being cleaned, was apparently no worse for the wear. The Berrys paid USD$250 to have the bathroom re-tiled, and paid an additional USD$5,200 for the ring retrieval. For their efforts, the couple gave Roberts and another plumber an extra USD$400 each, and another $200 to a restaurant employee who stayed late into the evening to lock up.

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Taxi Driver Turns US Couple’s Wedding Nightmare Into Dream Come True

A New York couple have a taxi driver to thank for the return of their wedding cash, which they accidentally left behind when they exited his cab after their wedding ceremony. The driver found a box in his trunk at the end of his shift and set it aside for a day to see if anyone called or came around to claim it. When no one inquired about the box, he opened it and found that it was stuffed with cash, cards and checques made to the newlyweds.

The driver’s seventeen-year-old daughter convinced the driver to look through the cards to see if he could find an address for the pair. One card held the couple’s full address, so the driver, Haron ur Rashid, took the box to the couple’s home and turned it over to the doorman at their building. The couple, who considered canceling their honeymoon plans because of the missing box, went to Mexico after all, not knowing that their wedding gifts had been found.

The driver’s good deed might have gone unnoticed until the couple’s return, except that a relative of the groom had snapped a picture of the couple as they entered the cab. The cab had a distinctive roof-mounted advertisement, and the relative set out to locate the cab, not knowing that Rashid had already turned the money over to the couple’s doorman.

When the cab was located, the driver happily informed the family that the money was already waiting for the couple upon their return.

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UK Couple Burned By Dominican Republic Destination Wedding

A couple from the UK jetted to the Dominican Republic to marry in front of friends and family, but the happy circumstances went bad almost immediately. The couple, Simone and Samuel Hibbard, booked their dream wedding through First Choice, a UK travel agency.

The agency told the couple that they had to be in the Dominican Republic for five working days prior the wedding, which had been planned for 10 or 11 December. They planned to stay at the five-star Gran Bahai Principe Punta Cana. When they arrived, the resort told them that the wait was unnecessary and that their wedding had been re-booked for 5 December.

The reschedule meant that the couple would have to wed without their guests. The couple took the 5 December date, and later were told that a last-minute cancellation on 11 December meant that the couple could re-take their vows before the guests who had arrived as planned.

During the second wedding, the wedding party members were overtaken by a severe stomach bug that ruined the second reception. The couple also missed out on a wedding breakfast that was supposed to have been part of the package.

The couple contacted an attorney upon their return and found that more than 40 claimants who had a similar wedding experience at the same resort in 2007 are also suing the travel agency. First Choice says that it thoroughly checks out the resorts its uses for wedding events and is confident that future guests will receive high quality wedding preparations and vacations.

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