Traditions and Wedding Group
We were not interested in getting caught up in the traditions and formalities of the big wedding thing. Our main priority for the wedding was to create an occasion that was informal, relaxing and fun. The dress code was casual Californian style and we didn’t have formal bridesmaids although our four nieces present on the day all looked lovely. As my husband has two brothers they automatically took up the role of best men and we chose music we happened to like for the very short walk up the "aisle"! Speeches happened spontaneously throughout the course of the day and there was a barbecue instead of a sit-down meal and no wedding cake! It almost sounds too simple but it was great.
Read more on A simple Californian wedding – Tips 1 & 2…
Filed under Weddings round the world by on 11 Apr 2008. Comment. 
How difficult could it be? All we wanted was a simple, intimate wedding in the US for thirty or so people and yet it proved a challenging task. Admittedly, we did decide to get married leaving ourselves only one month to make all the arrangements, which included flying various family members across the Atlantic from the UK.
"Hmm, you asked for it then," I hear you say, but let’s look at the alternative. We could have got married in England (we were due back there for Christmas in six weeks’ time, anyway) but wouldn’t a wedding in sunny California be a bit more memorable and enjoyable for everyone instead of a wet afternoon in Worthing Register Office?
Read more on Ten top tips for a simple Californian wedding…
Filed under Weddings round the world by on 11 Apr 2008. Comment.
There’s a remarkable number of men who want to marry a Thai woman. Maybe it’s not so surprising when you consider that Thai ladies are widely reckoned to be among the most beautiful in the world. The complications arise when the newly-weds want to visit the groom’s home country.
With some countries, the procedure’s straightforward. But with many, a long process has to be entered into to prove that the marriage is genuine and hasn’t simply been undertaken so that the Thai lady can obtain a visa for her new husband’s country. Hard to imagine why she might want to do that – Thailand’s warm, the cost of living’s cheap, Thai food is readily available all over the country, and her family are there. Europe and North America are cold in winter, expensive, have relatively bland cuisine and few opportunities to buy Thai food – and it can get desperately lonely for an isolated Thai wife.
Filed under Weddings round the world by on 11 Apr 2008. Comment.
If you’re both keen on angling, why not get married on the shores of beautiful Hubbard Lake in Michigan? You can exchange your vows in the morning, enjoy a quick spot of fishing and use your catch to cater for the reception.
Hubbard Lake is seven miles long and two miles wide, and is over 80 feet deep at its deepest point. It’s well stocked with bass, yellow perch, northern pike, tiger muskie, trout and walleye. It’s a favourite spot for angling in the summer. But if you fancy a winter wedding there’s good ice-fishing there as well.
You might struggle to find a convenient hotel, though – Alcona County had a population of only 11,000 at the last census. But you could always camp out…
The nearest major airport is Detroit Metro (DTW).
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My initial reaction to (Portuguese) weddings is: “Please, please, don’t invite me, please!” Obviously I don’t actually say that, but it’s what I think when someone tells me they’re getting married.
They cost a fortune here to have and to go to. I must point out at this stage I’m talking about weddings in the north of Portugal. I was interested to find out recently that down south (and around Lisbon) they’re not such a big deal. There is no such thing as a small Portuguese wedding and I don’t think there’s any such thing as a Register Office wedding either. Never heard of one, anyway.
Your typical Portuguese wedding is this. I went to one just like it a couple of weeks ago. It was better than the previous one I went to earlier this year because I didn’t know anyone except the bride and groom. Perfect. So anyway, if you’re a friend of the bride, you go to her house and the same for the groom. You’ll watch her being photographed and generally socialise for about an hour, you might get fed and watered if you’re lucky (traditionally, yes). Sustenance for the church service. Keep one’s strength up. Everyone then drives to the church in convoy.
Read more on Portuguese weddings…
Filed under Weddings round the world by on 11 Apr 2008. Comment.
