When it comes to weddings, everything is superstitious. There was a strong belief that weddings make the couple particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and bad luck, hence the many superstitions surrounding the event. Some are totally out of this world, while others may just have been created to keep the peace and order and prevent some naughty grooms from delaying the preparations. Whichever the case, here are some superstitions:

* It is considered bad luck for the bride to wear the wedding dress before the big day so much so that brides fit their gown in pieces to this day, never as a whole, and always with incomplete accessories.

* It is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding gown before she walks down the aisle. Doing so will result in an unhappy or tragic end to the marriage.

* If candles are lit on your wedding day and they sputter out, it means that there’s an evil spirit nearby.

* It is considered a very bad omen for the bridal party to come across a funeral hearse.

* If the groom drops the wedding band, the marriage is doomed.

* Pearls are not jewelry that a bride should wear because it means her marriage will be full of tears and sorrow.

* Throwing rice or confetti increases the couples good luck and fertility.

* Dress the bridesmaids in gowns similar to the bride to confuse evil spirits and keep the unwanted suitors from interrupting the bride and groom.

You may or may not agree with these superstitions but they’re good to know all the same. Good luck and blessings on your wedding!

This morning I spoke to a group of male business owners on leadership. As I was leaving, one of the men stopped me and asked me what I consider a strange question. He asked me how a person could make himself (or herself) ready for marriage. I looked at him and said I don’t understand that question.

His concern was that there are so many single moms in his neighborhood and their kids are running loose all the time. I wondered what that had to do with marriage. He said that if they were married and had a two-parent family that this would not be happening. I disagree.

Just because a family has two parents, that doesn’t mean the kids won’t be running around all the time. In some communities, that’s just the way it is. It’s a way of life. Remember the term “It takes a village”? That applies here.

Everyone has different experiences. We all have different lives; we live in different parts of the world. There is no such thing as a blanket solution for everything. Making two people marry for the sake of the children is never a good solution. That’s a recipe for disaster for the parents and the kids.

Now, the most interesting part of this story is that the man asking the question was an older gentleman who had been divorced twice. He, of all people, should have recognized that a blanket solution wouldn’t work. It didn’t work for him or either of his wives. Again, that’s just the way it is.

Some marriages are meant to be short term – or not at all. Today, many people choose to stay single for a longer period of time and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Because we are all different, blanket solutions do not work for everyone. The next time you hear one proposed, ask yourself if it would work for you. Chances are it probably won’t.

Wedding toasts perform an essential role during the wedding celebration. The wedding toast serves as a link between the formal wedding ceremonies and the less formal atmosphere of the wedding reception.

The wedding toast also allows some members of the family, relatives and closest friends to express their feelings and to wish the couple well.

Having toasts started from the belief that creating some noise, such as ringing a bell, in this case, the clinking of a glass, can cast away evil spirits.

The wedding toast may follow a traditional or a non-traditional order.

In the traditional order, the first toast is the toast to the bride or the toast to the bride and groom. This is done by the best man, a relative or a friend. The groom then responds with a message to his bride, the person who made the toast, the couple’s parents and a toast to the bridesmaids.

The best will then respond to thank the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids. At times, if the bride has spoken after the groom, the best man will thank the bridesmaids.

A close friend or relative may then follow with another toast. After this, the father of the bride thanks the guests on behalf of his wife and himself, and announces that they can begin with the celebration.

The non-traditional toast is done to do something different from the tradition. The order may be changed to suit the guests and the occasion.

The emcee proposes the first toast for the couple. The groom then thanks the emcee and the guests and toasts to his bride. The bride thanks her groom and the guests and proposes a toast to her parents and her in-laws. At times, a special toast may be done for her in-laws.

The father of the bride thanks the bride for the toast, thanks the guests for attending and announces that the celebration may begin. At times, the emcee may propose a toast to the bridesmaids, after which the maid of honor may respond with thanks or propose another toast. The emcee may introduce guests who will propose their toasts, and announce the beginning of the celebration.

Here are some tips when proposing a toast.

* The bride should be served the beverage first, followed by the groom, the maid of honor, the parents and then the best man.

* The toast can be done with a sip of wine, champagne or a non-alcoholic drink except coffee, tea and water.

* If you will propose the first toast, make sure that not only your glass, but also all the other glasses are filled before you start speaking.

* When proposing a toast, raise your glass with your right hand. The glass should be held in a straight line from the shoulder.

* It is better to compose your own wedding toast. However, if you cannot write a good one, you can try traditional wedding toast but make sure to personalize it to include your feelings and thoughts about the bride and groom.

* Always remember to end a toast with an invitation to the guests to join you and something that tells them what to say in response.

These are some things that one should remember when proposing a wedding toast. On the other hand, if you received a toast, you do not raise your glass, stand, nor sip your drink. You just thank the toasters and although you are not required, you may propose another toast.

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Just about everyone agrees that a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine at a quiet, intimate restaurant will set the mood for romance, but have you seen the price tag? Not everyone can afford to spend big money on romance ever time, but a bit of creativity can get the same results without breaking the bank.

While most people know about ‘his and hers’ items like bathrobes and towels, there are a number of other items that can be enjoyed together as ‘couples’ items. Try getting matching T-shirts with cute sayings on them. Have matching his and hers overnight bags, coffee mugs, bicycles, cell phones, cars, holiday ornaments, tennis rackets, rocking chairs and even matching carved pumpkins on Halloween.

Surprise your partner by making the ordinary a little more special. If he or she is enjoying a good book, remove the bookmark and replace it with a note that says, “I bet you’ll never guess where I’ve hidden your bookmark.” If they always turn the TV on when they come home from work, tape a note on the television that says, “Wouldn’t you rather turn me on?” instead.

Making important memories is one way to be romantic on a budget. Challenge your partner to remember the most romantic kiss that you’ve seen in a movie. This will lead to some discussion about romantic kisses and should enhance the mood. As a surprise, buy that movie one day and try to recreate that special romantic kiss! Keep it in a special place and re-watch it whenever the mood strikes. If you can’t agree on the single most romantic kiss, go ahead and create a top five list. This tip works for anything. The top five most romantic songs. The top five most romantic movies. The top five most romantic books. You see the pattern. Make sure to go ahead and buy the books, songs, movies or whatever so you can use them in the future.

If you want to plan the ultimate romantic evening but funds are low or you simply don’t want to have to leave the house, shut down the electricity and imitate a power outage (it’s up to you whether or not you tell him or her!). You won’t have any distractions or heat, so it is up to both of you to keep the other warm and entertain each other.

It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy an Oreo cookie. Take an Oreo (or generic version of one), scratch the top of the cookie until smooth and then scratch a heart and your initials into the smooth surface. You can also make your own cookies and create personal messages. Another version is to make your own cupcakes and frost them with special messages in red icing. You can also give your spouse a true treat and track down a box of his or her favorite Girl Scout cookie.

These 5 simple ideas are sure to warm up any relationship. Don’t be afraid to try simple tips and changes to “routines” to spice things up without having it cost a fortune!

A wedding is a solemn occasion. It is also a special event by which two willing hearts and minds unite by an eternal bond of everlasting love. Hence, the apparel of the bride and the groom should be thoughtfully chosen to reflect the significance of the grand occasion. The wedding dress of the bride comes in bright, auspicious colors styled uniquely in conformance with the ceremonial importance as determined by the culture and religion, which sanctifies the marriage.

Features of a wedding dress

Wedding dresses come in various colors, forms and styles corresponding to the many cultures and fashions from which they hail. Wedding dresses are characterized by their exquisite grace and charm. Though the term wedding dress usually refers to the bridal gown worn by Western/European brides, all the various kinds of dresses worn by brides worldwide come within the ambit of wedding dress.

Wedding dresses vary with regions, customs, cultures and religions. The Oriental, the Indian, the Middle East, the African, the Mediterranean, and the American – all have their respective typical wedding dress codes. Whatever may be the type of wedding dress of the bride – a bridal gown, a sari, a kimono, a Salwar Kamiz with wedding veil, it is created to spell elegance and hold the audience and especially the bridegroom spellbound. Wedding dresses are secured from the highly skilled artisans who use the best fabrics and the most intricate embellishments – elaborate patterns and designs to create the choicest dresses of the respective culture. The exquisite wedding dresses thus made serve as a reflection of the culture concerned too.

Considerations in selecting the appropriate wedding dress

In marriages the appearance of the bride and the groom is of prime importance. The wedding dress or the bridal attire requires special mention in this regard since the bride is the cynosure of all eyes at the wedding and therefore her attire commands utmost attention. The wedding dress should be selected with due care with respect to the following considerations:

1. Checking bridal magazines to get a better idea of what fashions are in vogue.

2. Seeking opinions from select friends on the dress selection and trying to view choices made from their perspective.

3. Thinking over the kind of party to be hosted and the prevailing mood- formal or casual.

4. Budgetary constraints set up regarding purchase of dress.

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you’ll find that the subject of Russian wedding traditions is certainly no exception.

Russia has a long history of wedding traditions. The traditional Russian wedding ceremony does not have many traditions and many couples opt for a simple civil service that is not widely attended by their friends and relatives. The wedding reception however is a very important part of Russian tradition. Perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of a traditional Russian wedding is that it lasts for at least two days.

Russian law does not recognize church weddings so couples wishing to marry must have a civil wedding ceremony. At the conclusion of this ceremony the couple is given bread and salt which represents health and prosperity. This civil ceremony is considered unimportant by family members and many of them do not attend. In the Russian culture the wedding reception is a two day extravaganza that is considered to be more important than the ceremony itself.

The first day of a Russian wedding ceremony is filled with a series of events that includes the civil ceremony, a tour of the city and the start of the reception. The wedding day begins with the bride and groom in separate locations each accompanied by their own friends and family members. The groom will arrive at the bride’s location well before the two of them need to arrive at the civil service. This is necessary because the bride’s friends and family members make it difficult for the groom to reach his bride. For example, if the bride lives on a high floor of an apartment complex, the groom will be detained by friends or family members at each floor and asked trivia type questions about his bride. If he answers incorrectly, he must pay cash to advance to the next step. Once he arrives at his bride’s side, the two of them travel by train, in separate cars, to the location of the civil service. Only their closest friends and family members accompany the bride and groom to this ceremony as it is not considered very important. It is viewed as merely a way to have the union recognized by the government.

Immediately after the civil ceremony the couple takes a tour of the city to visit memorials of those who have died. This tour is usually two to three hours long and during this time the couple honors those who were killed in wars by laying flowers at their memorials. The couple is usually only accompanied by the two witnesses to their wedding on this journey. Sometimes a few other close friends will come with the couple but family seldom partakes in this tour because they are busy making preparations for the reception.

The best time to learn about Russian wedding traditions is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Russian wedding traditions experience while it’s still free.

After the tour of the city the couple arrives at the reception and this is where the true celebration begins. The reception always starts with a toast and usually the parents are the first to toast the bride and groom. The rest of the guests then offer their toast. Following the toast is the most prominent Russian wedding tradition. The guests drink wine after each toast and after they sip the guests will begin to shout, “Gor’ko” which means bitter. The couple then has to kiss in order to sweeten the wine. The guests will continue this tradition after each toast requiring the couple to kiss after each toast.

The rest of the first night is filled with dancing and another Russian tradition of playfully “kidnapping” the bride. The groom’s friends will take advantage of the chaos that ensues as all the guests start to dance and “kidnap” the bride. They will then demand the groom pay a ransom for her return. The bride’s friends also get in on the good natured fun by “stealing” the bride’s shoes. Again the groom has to pay a ransom before her shoes are returned. This first day of the reception continues on late into the night leaving the guests exhausted.

The second day of a traditional Russian wedding is usually held at the house where the couple will begin there lives together. This is a more relaxed day and although anyone from the first day is invited to attend, usually only the closest friends and family members attend this second day of festivities. Day two of a traditional Russian wedding usually begins in the late afternoon or evening. The guests all enjoy a meal together and after the meal comes another Russian tradition of having the bride clean the floor. The guests will litter the floor with currency and the bride has to “clean” the floor by picking up the money. The guests can continue to litter the floor with additional currency while the bride is “cleaning” and are particularly fond of coming to the festivities with a large amount of coins to make the bride’s job as difficult as possible. This tradition gives the guests the opportunity to make a contribution to the new couple.

Traditional Russian weddings are essentially two fun days of food, drink and friends. The ceremony itself is not viewed as the highlight of the wedding. The government will only recognize a marriage that is verified through a civil service and the church will not perform a church wedding unless a civil service has already been performed so couples often participate in both types of ceremonies separately. It is instead the reception that is the focal point.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.