Oct 302013
 

Wedding Loans: Perfect Finance Option for a Perfect Wedding

After seeing each other for years and being tagged as ‘in love’ since eternity, you desire to bring this to a logical end. You are wrong if you think I am suggesting a divorce even before you are actually married. The end to every love is wedding -the wedding of two bodies and two souls.

Have you been planning wedding since a long time but have been hindered because of the huge cost weddings entail nowadays.

Worry not. Spend as much as you can, because wedding loans are there to pay every penny of the expenses.

Average wedding costs anywhere between $19,000 – $27,000. This may go much higher if one is planning to have a gala wedding with all the pomp and show included.

And why shan’t one. Wedding is a once in a lifetime event. People would take all efforts to make the wedding truly memorable.

But the society and the customs have changed much. Just as the parents or guardians lost their say over the choice of bride or groom, they have little to do in the planning and financing of the wedding. So it is the couple who does all the spending on the wedding.

So how do the couples bear the expenses of wedding, in spite of being new to their professions and low on the income graph?

Wedding loans are an effective tool in their hands which they use to pay the entire wedding expenses. Wedding loans can finance practically every wedding expense right from the elegant wedding dress to the exquisitely beautiful engagement ring, from the lavish reception to the impeccable church decoration.

There are a number of other expenses which seem insignificant if seen individually, but become difficult to repay when taken in totality. These can be very easily paid through wedding loans.

Besides, wedding loans can be a much cheaper option to use for the payment rather than credit cards or past savings. Using a credit card can be simple if one goes by the immediate outcomes. But when the credit card debts are due for payment you find them to be much more than what you really spent. No, the credit card company is not indulging in any king of overcharging or cheating. This is only because of the accumulation of interest. Payment through credit cards is just like drawing a loan, but at a much higher rate.

Utilizing past savings for a one day affair like a wedding would be a waste. It could have been a lot better had the past savings been used for some productive purposes.

A wedding loan allows the customer to enjoy two benefits. The first benefit of wedding loan is that the customer will not have to pay an exorbitantly high amount. Most of the lenders offer loans at reasonable rates of interest.

The second benefit is regarding the timing of payment. Even though a customer has to pay more than what he would have spent, he accepts this because he does not have to pay the whole amount at one go. Monthly payments require to be made towards the payment of loan.

A certain amount of planning is necessary when taking a wedding loan. If parents are ready to be a part of the finances then they must be included in discussions. How much can they spend on the wedding needs to be decided well in advance. This will determine the amount of wedding loan that needs to be applied for.

Secured wedding loans taken against ones home will be much cheaper. A valuation of the home or property will be done. One can draw loan depending upon the worth of his home. However there are options for those who do not have a home or who do not want to put their home under any kind of obligation.

Next comes the choice of lenders. It is no longer necessary to depend on lenders in one particular locality or region. Almost every big and small lender is available online. An internet connection is what is needed. One does not even have to leave his home or office, and loan can be applied for instantly. Such a relief from the previous times when a customer had to go to each and every lender to just get the quotes. Few customers were ready to go through this grind, and hence accepted whatever offer was given.

These loans are very easy to approve. With the valuation of property and credibility check over, it is very easy to get loans approved. Filling up each and every detail with caution and accuracy can save enough of time in the approval process.

Did you promise your wife an impeccable wedding ring? You can keep on the promise since wedding loans are there to meet the expense.


About the Author

Aditya Thakur is a financial consultant and is currently pursuing masters in journalism from JMI University. To find a secured loan that suits your need visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk

 

Aditya Thakur

Oct 302013
 

Now, we’re going to cover the subject of weddings from the man’s point of view….

That’s right, we’re gonna cover weddings from the man’s point of view. And why not? It’s June, right? The big wedding month? Well, okay then, let’s get down to business. Of all the activities or events that there are out there, one of the most feminine dominated ones are wedding ceremonies. Okay, laugh if you will, make all the comments you want about how weddings are for both the man and woman, and then sit back and answer the following questions to see if I’m not hittin’ it dead on the target…

What gender typically directs the wedding ceremony?

Whose preacher typically conducts the wedding ceremony?

Who is ninety plus percent of the crowd there to see, the about-to-be new husband or the about-to-be new wife?

Who benefits most from the bridal registry?

Which gender most enjoys dressing up for the ceremony, and which gender’s feet hurt for days afterwards on account of having to wear black leather shoes with triple thick soles?

Whose wedding clothing is preserved for posterity afterwards, and whose is immediately taken back to the rental place?

(..and here’s one to see if y’all are still paying attention) What gender typically pays for the whole ceremony?

See what I mean? And it gets even worse for the poor man involved. A guy who has a zillion girlfriends can announce one day that he’s found someone to marry, and everyone will laugh and wonder why he’s bothering to go through with a wedding at all, sort of the “why buy a cow….” type analogy. But, let a woman live with a man for ten years and then announce that she’s marrying him and having a big ceremony, well, no one will say ten words about the insanity of it all, in fact, it’s usually applauded. Why? But it gets even worse for us males – the man, right after the ceremony, will be whisked away along with his new bride over to the wedding reception. This will typically be a super nice, catered affair, and one that the man has somewhat looked forward to as he has had to starve himself for several hours prior to the ceremony (he can’t have noises rumbling out of his stomach for everyone to hear while the vows are being recited, you know). As soon as he gets a little plate of food and readies himself for some much needed nutrition, he’ll be hemmed up by some of his new bride’s relatives and told to “be good to her,” or “treat her like we always did,” and my all-time personal favorite, “we’ll be keeping an eye on you.” What the male discovers over the next few years is that most of the relatives who made these statements are either unemployed, struggling with substance abuse problems, or else follow religions involving the handling of dangerous reptiles. Of course, in all fairness, all families have their share of drunks and losers, but for some reason the new bride’s deadbeat ones want to dole out lots of advice to the groom right after the wedding. I guess that’s because they realize that the man will soon discover the true scoop, and as a result they’ll never be able to give out any advice again, so they have to take full advantage of their one good chance to do so.

Personally, if I were single and getting married tomorrow, I would forgo a traditional wedding and opt for getting married on a cruise ship. And no, not because of all the nice places the ship would take me, but because getting married on a cruise ship means that the honeymoon begins just as soon as you walk back to your cabin. The honeymoon is the highlight of the whole marriage service for the male, and also happens to be the item that he typically has to wait the longest to enjoy, so getting married on a cruise ship eliminates this particular problem.

In conclusion, ladies, please don’t get too hacked off at me because of these observations – as much happiness as y’all bring into men’s lives, the least we men can do is endure the before noted horrors of the marriage ceremony itself. All in all, a couple of hours of torture vs. getting to spend the rest of your life with a lovely woman is well worth it all in the end. Well, well worth it all unless your bride has an old maid aunt with whiskers who wants to give you a big ole kiss when you run up on her in the reception line…

About the Author

Ed’s latest book, “Rough As A Cob,” can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. He’s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.

 

Ed Williams

Oct 302013
 

Wedding Dresses — How to Choose the Right Wedding Gown for Your Big Day

Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride’s wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search.

First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.

Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests – and, of course, your husband-to-be.

By now, you’ve likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.

Here are some general guidelines:

In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.

In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.

In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color – short or long – or even a suit.

What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you’ve always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!

As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.

For specifics on what’s appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don’ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.

How can you purchase wedding dresses online?

The Internet can be a tremendous help when you’re looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let’s face it – most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.

After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you:

a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.

b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.

c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you’re uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.

d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!

e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.

When you’ve gone through all these steps, you’re certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you — and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.

Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.

About the Author

Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.

http://MarriedBliss.com — Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!

 

Stacey Martin

Oct 302013
 

As June wraps its arms around us like the warm hug of a favorite aunt, I begin to think about weddings. I’ve been a musician for thirty years, and I’ve played at scores of weddings and receptions, sometimes more than once for the same person. It was a way to make a living-the money was good and there was usually decent food.

As a wedding soloist, I’d sit off to the side, watching brides in white dresses and grooms in rented tuxedos promise to love each other forever. But somehow, I couldn’t shake a sadness that always hung over me as I watched, knowing that one in every two marriages will fail.

I can’t explain it, but over the years, I developed an eye for knowing whether a couple was going to make it or not. There was just something about the way the bride and groom related to each other-the look in their eyes and their body language-that offered clues as to how their marriage was going to turn out.

Then one afternoon, while our band was playing for a large reception in a small town ballroom, I casually looked across the vast sea of people. My glance moved from table to table, until I saw the bride and groom, sitting alone in a corner. They were sitting in total ease, holding hands, saying nothing.

Her flowing white dress and his tuxedo seemed out of place, but their happiness and comfort with each other was totally apparent. There was no question that those two people belonged together. They would’ve been sitting there in those same two chairs, still holding hands in exactly the same way, if they’d been wearing blue jeans and overalls at someone else’s reception.

They were at a party, to be sure-a big, loud party. But the party was really for the benefit of everyone else in attendance. They were totally comfortable just sitting in their corner, out of the limelight, watching the people they loved having a good time.

As cynical as I’d become over the years, something struck me at that moment as I watched that couple. I realized that weddings actually represent the triumph of the human spirit. Every marriage is a public statement by two people, letting the whole world know that together, they choose to believe that their union will be the one-in-two that lasts.

When thought of in that way, every wedding really symbolizes a victory of hope-in the face of all odds. Sure, it’ll take all their courage and strength to succeed, but no matter what, couples continue to try.

They know the statistics are against them-but they look straight into the eyes of the odds makers and say, “So what?”

And why not? Throughout history, people have staked their fortunes, and sometimes their very lives, on less than a 50-50 chance.

Maybe that’s why we hold so many weddings in the month of June. It’s a month that can be unpredictable-full of warmth and promise one minute, and then suddenly becoming stormy and filled with uncertainty.

As for me, since seeing that couple, holding hands at their reception, I’ve begun singing my wedding solos with a renewed hope-embodied by two people at the altar, vowing to face their future together, in spite of overwhelming odds.

© 2004. Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Gary Anderson is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and manuscript analyst, living on a small Iowa farm. He’s published more than 500 articles and four books. He’s also ghosted a dozen books, edited more than 30 full-length manuscripts, produced seven newsletters, and has done more than 800 manuscript reviews for various publishers around the nation. If you need writing or editing help, visit Gary’s website at www.abciowa.com.

 

Gary E. Anderson

Oct 302013
 

It’s safe to say that of all the important events in your lifetime, your wedding day is certain to be right up there with those that are the most meaningful. And throughout the entire wedding day – the preparations, the ceremony, the reception, and the wedding night – the moment when you recite your wedding vows to each other is the most meaningful. It is a time that you will remember forever, exactly as it felt: a sublime, dreamlike fantastical moment, when everyone significant to you is watching as you join in wedlock with the most important individual in your life.

Conquering Your Fears

Since this is such a unique and central moment to your romantic life, you’re probably wondering how it is that you’ll make the experience better than that 10th grade public-speaking assignment where you blanked out halfway through and fainted in front of all of your peers. Begin by telling yourself that it is perfectly natural to feel nervous when speaking in public. Moreover, not everyone is born with perfect public-speaking skills that accurately demonstrate what they feel in their hearts. However, fortunately for the majority of us, these things can be learned.

Of course, being well-prepared and armed with wedding vows you know are the absolute best they could possibly be is one of the easiest ways to overcome these fears. How do I know? Because the home-study course I put together, The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, has helped hundreds of couples take the fear out of their wedding ceremony by giving them the tools they need to write truly amazing wedding vows. You can find out more about the kit at http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com.

But beyond that, when you think logically about each of these fears, you’ll realize there is nothing that cannot be overcome with a bit of care, technique, and practice. Let’s take a realistic look at these five incredibly common worries. In a few minutes, you’ll see that none of them are likely to spoil your ceremony.

Common Fear #1: Freezing Up

This is a direct result of being excessively nervous. Therefore, it’s important to come up with some calming techniques that will help you to keep cool. It’s only natural to be a bit nervous. In fact, the added rush from being a little on the anxious side can actually help you to speak better and with added feeling. The best technique that you can give yourself is breathing. Most often, when we are overly frightened, we either breathe much too quickly or we hold our breath. Therefore, as you’re keeping yourself calm, concentrate on breathing smoothly, neither too fast or too slow, but regularly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Practice a few times in advance, especially in other situations that you’ve found a bit stressful in the past. You’ll be surprised at what an enormous difference something as simple as breathing can do for you.

Common Fear #2: Going Blank

This is another trick played by your overly-nervous brain. To stop yourself from becoming so nervous that you go blank, or even to remove any fear that you may go blank, bring a “backup” copy of your wedding vows on cue cards that you can slip into your pocket. Make sure they are very crisp and neat looking so that you won’t hesitate to use them if you have to, and write clearly on them so that you won’t get stuck due to sloppiness.

Common Fear #3: Blushing, Dry Mouth, and Shaking.

These are extremely common physical responses to being nervous and having to perform in front of others. However, even if they do begin to occur, you can bring yourself to a calmer state where these physical symptoms will begin to fade. Try to ignore blushing and shaking as much as possible and just concentrate on your vows and how much you love the person to whom you are making those vows. With regards to dry mouth, drink lots of water beforehand, and try not to think about it. As long as you concentrate on what you’re doing, instead of the fact that you are blushing, shaking, or have a dry mouth, they will actually begin to resolve themselves quite quickly.

Common Fear #4: Having Someone Heckle

This is a common fear, but it simply doesn’t happen at weddings. Remind yourself that everyone there with you is hoping the very best for you and your future spouse. They are all nervous right along with you and wouldn’t dream of saying anything but best wishes for your future together. The closest they will come to “heckling” is sending a mental prayer to provide you the strength and the courage to continue so that you may enjoy long and happy lives together.

Common Fear #5: Being Judged

The people attending your wedding are all people who know you, like or love you, and who wish you the very best. They know how much adrenaline is running through your system as you say your wedding vows, and wouldn’t judge you at a time like that; except to think about how well suited you are to the love of your life.

About the Author

Chris Simeral’s Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit has helped hundreds of people across the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain compose completely personalized and ultra-romantic wedding vows. Find out more at
http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com/
.

Chris Simeral

Oct 302013
 

These days, it’s becoming more and more common for couples of different religious backgrounds to get married. Many religions have embraced this fact– in two of the four major Jewish sects, interfaith marriages are regularly performed, most Protestant clergy are willing to officiant interfaith marriages, and more and more Catholic priests, Conservative Judaism rabbis, and Islamic leaders are conducting interfaith ceremonies. Ask other interfaith couples in your area for recommendations if you’re having a hard time finding someone yourself. Or, you could have your wedding performed by a non-religious officiant. You will still have the opportunity to incorporate religion into your ceremony if you do this, but it will eliminate the hassle of finding a religious officiant who’s views about interfaith marriage are the same as yours.

It may not be easy pulling off an interfaith ceremony. Your relatives may be upset that you are straying from tradition and even you and your fiance may have some different ideas about how the ceremony should be run and which traditions and rituals should be part of the ceremony. You will need to take a lot of time to consider exactly what marrying someone of a different faith means to you and how you will handle your differences on the wedding day and beyond. With some compromising and understanding though, we’re sure you’re interfaith wedding will go on without a hitch.

Since there is no traditional interfaith ceremony format, we can not recommend one that you should follow, but below you will find some tips for how to incorporate two religions into your ceremony.

Involving Both Families– Chances are, if anyone is upset about you having an interfaith marriage it’s the older generation– your parents and grandparents. The best thing you can do to help them come to terms with your decision and understand it is to have both families participate in the ceremony. Unity candles are a wonderful idea to involve both parents and in this case, the candle lighting will have extra symbolism as you are not only joining your two families, but also your two faiths. At many interfaith marriages involving Christian and Jewish grooms and brides you will notice that the couple is taking a cue from the Jewish religion and having both parents walk the bride and groom down the aisle. This is sure to make both sets of parents feel special on the big day.

Neutral Ground– It’s important for many couples and their families to have a completely neutral ceremony. Many officiants steer clear of using non-inclusive language and avoid using mentions of things unique to one religion (for example, mentions of Israel, Jesus as a savior, etc.) and instead focus on God’s love and the theme of unity and togetherness. In general, we’d advise against having the ceremony in a place of worship unless it is special to both the bride and groom.

Music and Readings– Incorporate music and readings from both your faiths into the ceremony or you can have faith neutral readings and music. We have several suggestions for readings as well as tips for readers weddings in our ceremony section.

Programs– Wedding programs are almost a necessity at an interfaith wedding if you will be incorporating aspects of two faiths into your wedding. A good program will explain the meaning and origin behind any religious rituals that take place at the wedding, that way, none of the guests will be confused about what is going on (your guests may not have attended a wedding outside of their faith group).

Having two officiants– Many interfaith couples are now deciding to have two officiants present at their wedding ceremonies, one from each religion. By having two officiants, you’ll be making everyone more comfortable, plus two heads are always better than one and two officiants can give you more ideas about conducting and interfaith ceremony than just one.

About the Author

Heather Greene is the head writer for the wedding planning site, Wedding Wonderful located at www.weddingwonderful.com. This article originally appeared on Wedding Wonderful.

 

Heather Greene

Oct 292013
 

There’s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 – $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don’t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn’t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else’s.

You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.

Wedding Gowns

Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It’s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.

The Reception

This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone’s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.
Photography

The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all.

Invitations / Stationery

If you’re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home Invitation cards There are many online stationer’s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you’ll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC.

Miscellaneous

Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn’t have to be a fruit cake – try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-pieces yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?

Summary

Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.

About the Author

Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com
where you will find further tips and advice on sending invitation cards and choosing your personalized stationery items.

Oct 292013
 

Marriage is a union of two people that starts with a ceremony that is called a wedding; many changes have been made to the law surrounding a marriage in the last twenty years or so. Whilst the ceremony may occur in a church or other religious place the marriage is not recognized until the legal duties are performed. The law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. A woman taking part in the ceremony is called a bride, a man called a bridegroom; the terms husband and wife are then the traditional terms to use after the ceremony.

Marriages in a Church

Of course other wedding traditions can be much more complicated as soon as you look into different race, social classes and ethnic groups to name a few. Even in today’s climate, the traditional Church ceremony is still the most popular service. These ceremonies are usually referred to as white weddings and are considered formal or semi-formal in the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States, as well as some other Commonwealth countries.

Double Ceremonies

A different type of wedding occasion often more difficult to arrange is where two couples are married simultaneously. This type of ceremony is often organized by a person that has a sibling that wants to get married at the same time.

Marriages in Another Country

Marriages in foreign countries are called destination weddings where guests can arrive either just before the ceremony or actually travel with the couple; it doesn’t matter exactly where you travel to, whether it is in Egypt or just to Las Vegas it will still be considered a destination wedding.

Weddings over a Weekend

Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having theirs over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. To cater for this expanding market a number of companies can arrange special themed occasions that incorporate anything from golf to surfing. For many people that have outdoor interests this can be a lot of fun and the guests can stay for the entire weekend with them to extend the occasion and have a lot more fun.

Getting Married on the Internet

An online wedding is conducted on the internet which can resemble a normal ceremony. Internet companies specializing in this type of ceremony are there to help you with your marriage. Marriages that are broadcast live online are also referred to as online weddings and friends can view it from anywhere in the world.

City Hall Marriages

Local civil authority services are called civil weddings as they do not take place in a church and must be performed by a locally elected or appointed official. Although it may sound clinical, civil ceremonies usually make no reference to God. Often, this type of service will take place in a judge’s chambers, town or city hall or any other specially designated place.

This article has only provided information on few types of weddings; there are actually many many more types through out the world, and some could be considered rather strange by our standards.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Oct 292013
 

Wedding Bible Verses from the Old Testament

Readings for your wedding from the Old Testament, also called The Hebrew Bible, are suitable for Jewish weddings. The most appropriate version of the Bible for a Jewish wedding is the Masoretic Text.

Genesis 1:27-28a, 31a God’s good and gracious work in creating man and woman for each other

Ruth 1:16 The devotion of Ruth to a new family

Song of Solomon 2:10-14, 16a The lover arrives in spring to call for his bride

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 A bride beseeches her lover to be faithful

Isaiah 26:3-4 Trust in God

Isaiah 43:1-7 Our redemption by God, and God’s presence and love in our lives

Isaiah 55:10-13 God’s word feeds and nurtures us

Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Our certain salvation and a new status

Jeremiah 29:11-13 The context of Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon is wayward people being called back into a righteous relationship with God.
Taken out of context, it could be interpreted as a directive to seek the Lord, thus making it appropriate in a wedding ceremony.

Psalm 19 A psalm praising God as creator

Psalm 34:8 A psalm of thanksgiving. Verse 8 is a particularly nice wedding reading when Holy Communion is included in the service.

Psalm 98:1a, 4-6 A psalm of praise

Psalm 100 A psalm of praise

Psalm 119 The longest in the Bible, the entire psalm is a reflection on God’s laws, with verses 1-16 reflecting on walking always in God’s way.

Psalm 127 A home built by God

Psalm 128 The blessings of lives led by God

Psalm 148 Praise the Lord

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 The values of human companionship

Wedding Bible Verses from the Gospels

Matthew 5:1-10 The famous Beatitudes which proclaim God’s favor to those who try to live by God’s law. (See Luke 6:17-49 for a shorter account of The Sermon on the Mount which also includes a few other verses found elsewhere in Matthew.)

Matthew 7:24-27 A metaphor on establishing your home on a foundation in God.

Matthew 22:35-40 The greatest commandment of love and the many ways it applies to life.

Mark 2:18-22 Christ as the bridegroom and His followers as the bride.

Mark 10: 42-45 It is better to serve than to be served.

John 2:1-11 The wedding at Cana where Christ performs his first miracle of turning water to wine.

John 3:16 The famous “For God so loved the world” verse.

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

John 15:9-17 An admonition to love one another. Christ’s sacrificial love for us.

Wedding Bible Verses from the New Testament

Romans 12:9-18 The Christian’s duty to love and all that is encompassed by that duty: Hope, patience, prayer, compassion, and more. Be sure to compare this passage to the 13th chapter of First Corinthians.

I Corinthians 13 Perhaps the most famous of all wedding Bible verses, this chapter defines the ultimate gift of the Spirit: Love.

I Corinthians 14:1 “Make love your aim” in all that you do. (Verses 2-5 go on to discuss the superior gift of prophecy rather than speaking in tongues.)

I Corinthians 16:14 Be certain that everything you do is motivated by love.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 Through Christ’s sacrificial love, we have become new creations.

Ephesians 2:4-10 God’s gracious love for us saves us through faith.

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Be loving and forgiving, speaking only good and imitating Christ. “…let not the sun go down upon your wrath…” (KJV) Check on more modern translations for a better reading.

Ephesians 5:21-33 This passage depicting the Christian home is difficult for some because it deals with “submission theology.” However, the general thought is mutual submission. Understand it from an early church point of view.

Philippians 2:1-5 Guard against selfishness. Be humble and serve others.

Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice and don’t be anxious. Live honorably and justly, and God’s peace will be a part of your lives.

Colossians 3:12-17 The Christian life lived in love and harmony. Do all in Christ’s name.

Colossians 3:18-20 More submission theology with the admonition to husbands to love their wives

I John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…” (KJV)

I John 3:16 Christ’s example of sacrificial love.

I John 3:18-24 Believe in Christ, and keep His commandments by loving one another.

I John 4:7 Love each other because love comes from God.

I John 4:16-19 God loves us. If we live in love, it serves as a sign that God lives in us. We are capable of love only because God loved us first.

Revelation 19:1; 5-9 A glorious celebration in heaven for the marriage of the Lamb of God. The church is depicted as the Bride.

Oct 292013
 

An important aspect of planning your wedding is selecting scriptures to be read in the ceremony. Many clergy encourage the couple to look through the Bible and choose some appropriate verses. This provides an excellent way for the bride and groom to personalize their service by choosing passages that have a special meaning for them or speak to their particular situation. For many couples this is both exciting and daunting. After all, the Bible is a pretty big book! Where to begin? How to choose? Which to choose?
Most members of the clergy will not object to more than one reading during your ceremony. In fact, many will encourage you to pick as many as 3 passages. As difficult as it might be for you to believe, it can be hard to narrow it down! There are so many from which to choose!

In reading these selections, you may find yourself reading beyond the verses. This is an excellent idea because the context may surprise you in some cases. For example, Ruth 1:16 (Old Testament verses) is a popular verse and is often used in weddings. (There are endless vocal music settings of this text as well, so don‘t rule this possibility out for your soloist.) While we think of this passage as being spoken by a man to a woman, or visa versa, as an affirmation of love and devotion, it is actually spoken by Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi! The story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz is certainly an entertaining tale. If you have time to read the whole saga, I encourage you to do so! It’s quite a story! So, again, try to take the time to read a few verses before and after the main verses listed above. It could influence your decision.

How does one begin to narrow down the choices? One thing to bear in mind is that many of these popular wedding Bible verses have been set to music. If you narrow your choices down to 5, but you only need to use 3, find out from your music director if any of your choices are set to music. You could then use those as vocal selections and the problem is solved. You can have them all!

And as for which ones to choose, you have some work ahead of you. Read the verses as a couple. Ask each other, “Does it speak to our situation?” “Does this sum up an important belief that we hold?” “Does this make us feel good or special when we read it?” And sometimes it’s simply a matter of what grabs you!

Since the lists are quite extensive, click here to view. They comprise of Wedding Bible Verses from the Old Testament and the gospels, and verses from the New Testament

About the Author

Deborah Spence holds a Master’s Degree in Sacred Music and has been involved with weddings for more than 20 years. As a church music director, she’s been actively associated with the ceremonial side of weddings in a variety of settings.