Maybe it’s the glamor of New York in the winter time, or just the fact that snowy landscapes are romantic and magical. Whatever the reason, more people are opting for winter weddings as they try to time the nuptials not only for convenience’s sake, but also to take advantage of shimmering landscapes that many find better than weddings in June. Almost all weddings start with a bit of ice, in the form of an engagement ring, so it’s not too hard to imagine going further with the winter motif. Continue reading »

A bride in an elaborate wedding dress from 1929. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Whoever said that a wedding was about the groom and bride? Do some women think that the size of the diamond on the engagement ring is everything for a bride? Well, some people in Romania seem to disagree quite stoutly. The proof of this is that a model and a team of seamstresses in Romania have established the record for the longest bridal train in the world at an unbelievable 1.85 miles. As you read this number, no one would fault you for thinking where the bridal train would go in a normal sized church. Maybe the Vatican can be used for the wedding to contain the lengthy bridal train. Continue reading »

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Even the saddest stories have happy endings, provided the person involved keeps faith and does not lose heart that there is something good in store for her in the future. This was proven by Elizabeth Smart recently as she recently received an engagement ring from Matthew Gilmour and married him soon after. The story of Elizabeth Smart is a chilling one but fortunately, it ends on a heartwarming note as the kidnap victim finally finds true love and happiness in life. Continue reading »

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There is a certain sense of completeness about life that most people seem to miss out on. There have been numerous phrases and sayings that have been created by various people at various times to describe this completeness. From ‘everything that happens, happens for good’ to ‘coming to full circle’, you will find multiple phrases that make an effort at describing the way everything balances out in life. However, while there may be a thousand sayings on how the highs and the lows balance out in the end, nothing can get the point across better than a living and kicking example. Continue reading »

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

If you have watched the Tim Burton movie ‘corpse bride’ and found it one of the better examples of what love can achieve in this world then you would really appreciate what a man in Thailand decided to do recently. According to videos circulating all over the internet and in the media, a man in Thailand decided to marry his girlfriend despite the fact that she was dead. Regardless of whether you see the man’s decision as something that shows the extent of his love for his girlfriend or as a grisly publicity stunt, the act has to be given its due for its daring.

The man, Chadil Deffy who also goes by the name of Deff Yingyuen decided to combine the funeral and wedding ceremonies because of the kind of love he felt for his deceased girlfriend. Chadil Deffy managed to combine the funeral and wedding ceremonies simply by placing a wedding ring on the finger of his girlfriend Sarinya “Anne” Kamsook during her funeral service. The funeral service took place in the Surin Province of Thailand. The pictures of the special ceremony between the couple shows Chadil Deffy in a black tuxedo and hat putting a wedding ring on the finger of Sarinya Kamsook who is lying on a raised platform in a bridal gown.

The act, as is obvious, has been received by various quarters of the public sphere with mixed reactions. People either see it as a great act of love or as something that should not be condoned at all. However, the story is much more than just a man trying to show the world the extent of his love. It is also about the man feeling guilty for keeping the girl waiting for marriage because of reasons that could have been ignored. Continue reading »

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People attach a lot of importance to engagement and wedding rings. Not just because the rings tend to be quite expensive, but more important is that people view these wedding and engagement rings as the symbols of their love and affection for each other. Hence, when something unfortunate happens, couples often go out of their way to fix the problem. Continue reading »

Some people are selfless and truly care about others and will go out of their way to help a good cause. They do good things for others as well as for the community. When a woman gets married, they expect that they will receive some gifts including jewelry and other, often unnecessary items. In some cases, they ask for people to donate to their favorite charities in lieu of a gift, which shows where their hearts are and can be a great feeling when the donations are received and are helpful.

Lisa Norvelle of Jacksonville is one such bride who shops at a local thrift store run by a hospice. She goes there very often and has found her wedding dress as well as two bridesmaid’s dresses there. She loves the place and calls herself a “thrift store junkie.” On her wedding invitation she asks that her guests donate to Haven Hospice, who run the thrift store and who are constructing a new inpatient center. They need the money to complete the project which is slated to open mid-2012. Continue reading »

The bridal traditions that many hold near and dear to them are important parts of the traditions that are passed on from generation to generation. The choice of engagement ring may not even be an issue as many future husbands use family rings that mean a lot to their fiancé as well as their family. These traditions are often passed on through generations reaching back hundreds of years. Diamonds are passed on through the generations and can be very significant as the engagement ring is a symbol of love. When your grandmother gives you her wedding ring to use to propose to your future bride, they clearly are happy with your choice. This is something that many believe in and those with strong family ties truly understand its importance. When a tradition is important to one person, their mate is usually game to continue it and pass it on to their children. A wedding dress is another item that can be handed down through the years and worn on that special day. The tradition of handing down a wedding dress is not as common as a ring, but it is also very interesting and can garner news coverage. Continue reading »

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable you will have in your lifetime. When you look out at your friends and family and they are there supporting you it is hard not to cry as this happy day is the start of a new life, one that is filled with love and happy times ahead. When a couple begins the process of planning their wedding, the main aspects must be agreed on, but the woman usually gets to decide what the wedding will look like in a general sense. She will pick the flowers as well as the colors that will be used for the decorations. The man usually sits back and puts in his two cents here and there, but overall, this is her day, one that she has been waiting for her whole life. Just like when you asked her questions about her ring size and what kinds of diamonds and rings she liked, you can also ask about her plans for her wedding. This way, it would be possible for you to plan the wedding for her using that information. A surprise wedding sounds like a good idea, but it must be properly planned for it to have the impact that you will want. Continue reading »

There are countless numbers of movies and novels that use abandonment, just days or moments before the wedding, as a storyline.  Usually it is displayed in some humorous way or as the jump-off point for the story’s heroine to begin her adventurous journey. However, when something like this happens in reality it is a tragedy.

There is nothing comical or romantic about being jilted at the altar.  It is deeply humiliating and painful.  It is a betrayal of the symbolism the engagement ring stands for, the promise between two people along with the potential vows the couple planned to give to one another. Marriage is valued in all global societies.  Once we have found that perfect someone to make such a commitment with, it is devastating when our chosen one leaves us right before the walk down the aisle.

On May 17th, the news reported a dramatic suicide attempt from Changchun, China.   The 22 year old bride-to-be was dumped just days prior to her wedding.  Her fiancée of 4 years had just gotten married to someone else just prior to their big day.  The heartbroken young woman had then put on her ivory colored wedding dress and made her way up from her fourth floor apartment to the top floor of the seven floor residential building.  She was seen sitting and sobbing on the window ledge 80 feet up, legs dangling above the concrete courtyard.
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