Thorn Yewtree
The date has been set, the invitations mailed out. The bridesmaids and groomsmen have been chosen, and colors decided upon. All of these things provide you a general idea of what your day is going to look like, but when your guests walk into that ceremony, what do you want them to see?
Over the years I’ve gone to my fair share of family weddings, and as I’m getting older, I’ve started getting more invites to dear friends of mines special days. And the one thing that remains consistent throughout is the ceremony decorations.
When people typically get married in churches, the decorations tend to be simple in order to emphasize the grand decorations that are typically seen in churches. The pews may be lined with bows and organza, in order to emphasize the center aisle for the bride, as well as the alter being decorated with the flowers that the bridesmaids may be carrying; there typically is no decoration other then that. However, if you’ve ever seen the opening scenes of my favorite movie, The Wedding Planner, or if you’ve seen pictures from the Royal wedding, you would have seen live trees being placed within the church. Although this tends to be expensive, it gives a lovely earthy feel to an otherwise sometimes stuffy place.
However, when you get married outside of a church, it gives people a little bit more freedom. Last year I went to an outdoor backyard ceremony. The bride had chosen to line the aisle she would be walking down in mason jars with white candles on the inside, to light her way, as well as white twinkle lights in the trees surrounding the guests. At the alter, she was surrounded in flowers and more white candles. A dear friend is getting married next year in the mountains and has decided on tartan decorations (because of her husbands heritage) to be tied on all the chairs.
My biggest thing when it comes to decorations at ceremonies though is too keep it simple. You’re there to focus on the love being solidified by you friends or family, not to notice all the million decorations within the setting. Save the wow factor for the reception, and make the ceremony about you and your future partner. Just keep it simple.
Feather Elfwand
Tiffany and Jeff~ 06/16/2012
Jeff had planned a trip to Victoria for Tiffany’s birthday. He asked her if there was anything she wanted to see or do while they were there. Tiffany really wanted to go to the Butterfly Museum because she had gone there as a child and broken her camera so she had no pictures.
Not only did Tiffany love butterflies, but they have a special connection with Jeff and Tiffany because when they first started dating they saw a butterfly on every date they went on until winter came.
Jeff teased her about going there but he took her. Once they were inside he paid there admission and took her into the first room where they had a television and an educational video about the growth of butterflies. Jeff told her he had forgotten his cell phone in the car and that he was going to run out and get it. Tiffany asked him if he wanted her to come with him and he said that it was fine and for her to watch the video and fill him in on what he missed from it.
He came back and the video had ended so they progressed into the Butterfly Room. Jeff looked a little flushed and Tiffany asked him if he was feeling alright, he said he was fine and blamed it on the heat from the room (it has to be a warm temperature for the butterflies to thrive). Jeff kept telling her to ‘look!’ practically every thirty seconds. They continued to walk around and then they went to a look-out point. Jeff handed her the camera and asked her to take a picture of the exotic birds that were also in the sanctuary. He had played with the settings of my camera so Tiffany couldn’t get a clear shot as Tiffany played with the setting Jeff called out her name. He was behind her and when she heard him and just said “Yea?” without turning around. He didn’’t say anything and she kept trying to fix the settings on my camera, a bit frustrated as to why he messed with them.
Jeff called her name again and over her shoulder she asked “what?”. This time Jeff said “Look!” Tiffany half turned around and said “Yea, I saw it”, not really paying attention and pretending to look at something in a tree but mainly focused on the camera. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jeff on one knee and she whipped all the way around as she felt her eyes just about pop out of her head. Jeff had a proud little smirk on his face and asked very confidently “Tiffany, will you marry me?”. She was in shock, smiling from ear to ear and couldn’t believe it. She said “Nooooo… nooo nooo nooo!” She watched his smirk quickly fade and a look of puzzlement came on his face. She realized she had said “no” and quickly said “I meant yes! YES! I only said no cause I couldn’t believe it and then I saw you there and I” he cut her off by kissing her. He slipped the ring on her finger.
Feather Elfwand
Author: Brittany Foster
Date nights aren’t just about spending money and going out. They are about filling in the parts of your relationship that get overlooked while you are both living out your daily routines. Try and figure out what you would like more of in your relationship, and base your date around that.
For the couple that spends too much time at work try a date night in. Grab a bottle of wine, light some candles, throw in a movie, and share a plate of dessert. Relax and unwind together in your own home. You need one on one time to connect with each other and to enjoy some time in your own territory.
For the couple who never finds the time to go out, make an effort. Try a comedy club or go to a local bar and listen to some live music. The social setting will allow you to enjoy your time together without worrying about the broken dishwasher or the laundry that’s sitting in the dryer. Let go of your household woes for an evening and make a rule to not talk about anything stressful.
For the outdoorsy couple, try out a hike that you haven’t been on before. Have a picnic in a park or take your dogs somewhere new. Spend a day enjoying nature with each other, explore your surroundings and take your time. Try to learn something new from each other while you’re at it.
If you and your spouse enjoy the “nerdy” things life has to offer, try a multiplayer game. Get some munchies and throw on some comfy clothes. Not everything has to be about sex appeal, and I speak from experience when I say it’s hard to wield a controller when you’re in a dress. If you don’t have any two player games for a console, try out a board game. They’re still popular, and there are some good ones out there. If that isn’t what you’re looking for, try out a museum or science center.
The most important thing about date night is spending time together in a setting you both appreciate. It should be about finding a way to connect that will allow you to become closer and maintain your relationship. Be creative and explore both of your interests.
Thorn Yewtree
A love relationship demands great ‘maintenance’ from both partners. It is not that effort is required only to improve a relationship. Effort is necessary even to maintain the relationship in status quo!
The common understanding is that love changes after the dating period and affection is on a decline. Why does it happen this way? The answer is actually very simple. The love and affection seem to be on a decline because the efforts put in are on a decline. In the dating phase, both partners go out of their way to keep the other happy and smiling and the efforts usually pay off. The promise of such happiness draws them both into solemn marital vows. Marriage is more often than not, the objective of the dating game and once it is achieved, there seem to be other objectives that occupy the partners and the relationship is left to languish.
And when this is brought to their notice, the excuses are almost clichéd. One does not have time for the relationship and one wonders as to what is the necessity of ‘maintenance’ when the partner already knows of his/her love. But this logic does not work. When one needs to keep aside regular time and energy for earning one’s daily bread, one needs to do the same to earn food for the soul - love - also. What finally matters is not how big a place you own in the bowels of earth but how big a place you have in the hearts of people.
Once the basic physical necessities are met, fulfillment comes for a person only emotionally and spiritually. When one works so much for physical and material comfort, how much more should one work for mental, emotional and spiritual fulfillment? And this kind of emotional and spiritual fulfillment arises only out of love. All things material come and go one day; it is only love that has the capacity to come and grow! Love is what makes the world go round. It is the most essential in your world too - whatever or wherever it may be.
And so, if one is really interested in investing for the future, one must invest in love and nurture a relationship. Here are some tips that will help.
1. Pay attention to what your partner likes. Learn his/her deepest desires and aspirations. See how each one can help the other in achieving the same.
2. If you cannot agree on everything, agree to disagree! Since the opinions and feelings can vary, the journey may get a bit longer with detours. That should not deter you for you will have company of your beloved in your journey and will never have to walk in life alone.
3. Learn to love unconditionally. Basically this means your love should be free from expectation. Do not do anything for your beloved with the aim of receiving the same. The very act should be its fruit!
4. Spend quality time with your partner. This means that you give yourself completely to him/her during that time. Keep aside work, worries, career and friends for that time. This shows that you value him/her.
5. Your partner may have some traits that you dislike or positively hate. Let not this dislike for the traits become a dislike for the partner. Learn to objectively separate the traits from the person.
6. Take decisions together. Show that you value the relationship. It is as important as actually valuing the relationship!
7. Do not think that since everything is known, you need not be expressive. Show your passion and love for your partner.
Like a plant that needs watering and care, sapling of love too needs attention and effort. Of course, once it grows, the effort needed will be less but still even the mightiest of trees need water, soil and protection. Let the seed of love grow into a mighty relationship tree. The fruits will only bring you more love!
Author: Rebecca Jones
Bio: Rebecca is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on Wireless Router Technology. Beside this she is fond of Gucci Wallets. These days she is busy in writing an article on Wedding Centerpiece Ideas.
Fairy Godmother
Jesse and Ashley ~ 09/15/2012
Jesse and Ashley had talked about marriage and knew without a shadow of a doubt they were going to get married; they even spent a few Saturday afternoons looking at rings! It really only came down to the guessing game of when Jesse was going to pop the question. Every time they went out to a nice dinner Ashley thought to herself, “This is it, he’s going to do it, he’s proposing tonight!” Then dinner would progress, dessert would come and go, the bill would be paid and Ashley would leave without a beautiful ring on my finger.
This type of guessing game went on for about a year until one day Ashley finally had enough of it! She decided there would be no more of the “when is he going to propose” guessing game; it would happen when it happened and that was that!
Ashley was at work, and having a regular day with little stress; As she was wrapping up with a client she noticed Jesse walk into the office. Jesse asked if he could have a moment with her, at this time Ashley was not scheduled for a break; but Jesse ensured her that he had already spoken with her supervisor and that it was okay for her to take a few minutes away from her desk. At this time Ashley became concerned because she figured something must be wrong. Ashley asked if everything was okay and he reassured her that everything was fine. She asked him what this was all about, and he took her hands in his and told her how much he loved her. Ashley stood there in shock as he got down on one knee and said, “Ashley you know how much I love you and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?” As Ashley stared at him in shock she could feel the tears running down her cheeks. As she took the ring out of the box and put it on her finger she looked at Jesse and yelled, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes”! The whole drive home they called everyone they knew to tell them the great news. It was the perfect way to end the day.
