Culture
The secret to a happy marriage
Who knows how many books have been written that supposedly reveal the secret to a happy marriage? They are countless, because there’s probably no single secret. The late, great celebrity chef, Julia Child, had a simple formula: “The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love…
Read MoreHow to be a good mother-in-law
Mothers-in-law have been the butt of jokes down through the ages. American sitcoms provide fodder with their often hilarious portrayals of mothers-in-law. Since readers of this blog are interested in planning their wedding and merging two families into one, let’s look at how to be a good mother-in-law. A serious example … The video below…
Read MoreTop 10 Wedding Movies
Hollywood has churned out some great movies over the decades with wedding themes. Here is our list of the top 10 wedding movies: #10: Runaway Bride It’s a silly premise. A woman (Julia Roberts) gets engaged and stands up one fiancé after another at the altar. Richard Gere is a journalist who wants to write…
Read MoreIs a marriage name change in your future?
What does Jennifer Lopez have in common with 88% of married women? She legally changed her name when she married actor Ben Affleck in a much-hyped wedding last year. Despite evolving wedding customs, a marriage name change is still the overwhelming norm. Most couples embrace a marriage name change out of tradition. It’s a legal…
Read MoreThe case for marriage grows
The media is noticing. The Wall Street Journal ran yet another piece touting the case for marriage. They reported on the mystifying tendency of married couples to become wealthier than their non-married counterparts in a November 7th piece (“Moving in Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why?”). They cited data released by…
Read MoreThe power of commitment
The word ‘commitment’ means a pledge to do something in the future, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Even more, it’s a binding promise. The power of commitment is self-evident in every type of human relationship. Writing in the Huffington Post, marriage author, expert, and educator, Debra Macleod, sees the power of commitment when contrasting the…
Read MoreEloping is a mistake
Some couples want to avoid family dramas. Some want to save money. And some seek a more intimate experience. Yes, there may be circumstances when eloping makes sense. But for most couples, eloping is a mistake. Weddings are meant to be shared. It’s a public presentation of your marriage vow before your community before entering…
Read MoreMixed weddings require customization
Marriages are more mixed than ever. The Knot tells us that 51% of couples marry someone with a different background, whether of a different race, religion, ethnicity, or geographic area. The Pew Research Center studies marriage trends. They learned that in 2015 forty percent of marriages were between interfaith couples compared to just nineteen percent…
Read MoreMarriage is about to get better
The year of the Coronavirus crisis will usher in a new era of marriage. If you’ve been contemplating marriage, this is the time to act. If you’re already engaged and plans were disrupted by last year’s lockdown, don’t give up the ship. This disruption will make your pending marriage better, even if you have to…
Read MoreMarriage is for everyone
The advantages of marriage are amazing. The public hasn’t caught on, though, according to this article in the Wall Street Journal: “Middle-class Americans are forsaking marriage amid financial insecurity, effectively making the institution more of a luxury good enjoyed by prosperous Americans.” According to the article, finances are the reason: “More couples are deciding to…
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