Alanis Morissette notwithstanding, rain on your wedding day isn’t actually ironic. However, it could be a sign of things to come. Here’s more info on that and other common wedding practices, traditions and superstitions.
Rain on Your Wedding Day
There are two schools of thought when it comes to rainy wedding–day lore. The first holds that the rain is an auspicious sign of fertility, growth and cleansing. On the other hand, some cultures believe that the rain represents all the tears the bride is going to cry during the marriage. This could be especially problematic when the couple marrying are both brides!
And a Sixpence in Your Shoe
You’re probably familiar with the bride needing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” on her wedding day. But you may not know that the rhyme actually ends with “and a sixpence in her shoe.”
Keeping a penny in your shoe will bring your marriage prosperity. Let’s be progressive and let the groom keep a penny in his shoe, too — the brides often have enough to contend with in the shoe department.
Getting Married on the Right Day
An old Celtic poem says of your prospective wedding day, “Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all.”
Weeknight weddings are becoming more popular, as more guests may have weekend plans of their own. If you can’t swing a Wednesday, definitely aim for Monday or Tuesday just to be on the safe side.
There Goes the Bride
You’re probably familiar with the tradition of the groom carrying the bride across the threshold of their home, but you may not know the origins of that custom. It was once believed that if the bride tripped over the threshold, the marriage would be visited by nothing but bad luck. The groom carrying the bride eliminates that possibility.
Wearing a White Dress
The bride’s choice of a white dress is believed by some to be a symbol of purity and innocence. However, the origins come from an old verse about the results of wearing different colors of dress.
“Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in gray, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”
The Bride Unveiled
In the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, it was believed that evil spirits and jealous witches would cast curses and hexes on the unsuspecting bride to try to steal away her happiness. The veil was worn to prevent those curses and hexes from landing.
In other cultures, though, the veil served another purpose. In arranged marriages, where the bride and groom had never met, the parents of the newlyweds-to-be wanted to keep the bride’s face hidden until the last possible moment to prevent the groom from rejecting his new wife.
Wearing Waterproof Mascara
When a bride or groom cries during their wedding, it’s often viewed as an auspicious sign. They’re believed to be shedding all the tears they have so that their marriage will have none.
Whether or not you believe in wedding-day superstitions is largely irrelevant. You know that your marriage will be what you both make of it, regardless of rain, pennies, weekend weddings, falling down, wearing a different colored dress, donning a veil or tears.
While many couples may wait until Valentine’s Day to have a romantic wedding where love is in the air, there’s another February holiday that’s just as sentimental, and we’re not talking about Groundhog Day. As loveable as Wiarton Willie is, we have another holiday in mind.
When Is It Celebrated?
Celebrated by Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere on February first or second, Imbolc is the Feast of the Goddess Brigid (or Brigit, Brig or Bree), one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the deities of ancient Ireland. Imbolc celebrates that the promise of Yule has been kept — the light is returning after the longest night of the year. Some Pagans celebrate Imbolc as a midwinter festival; for others, it’s the first day of spring.
What Does Imbolc Mean?
Imbolc means “in the belly” or “in the milk,” referencing the many pregnant animals that give birth in the spring. In Greek mythology, it’s when Persephone lights her lamp in Hades and begins her journey back to the Earth; she’ll arrive in spring.
Who Is Brigid?
Brigid is the goddess of poets, healers, and smithcrafters, such as blacksmiths and coppersmiths. Poets all but embody love; the 40 million Valentine’s cards sent in Canada certainly attest to that. Poets know that a word after a word after a word is power, both to hurt and to conjure magic out of thin air. But healers and smithcrafters? How do they fit into the loving feelings of Imbolc?
Healers bring forth life and fight to protect it against all ills. What could be more loving than that? If not for healers, your beloved might not even be there for you. If he or she ever battled for life, you have a healer to thank for your loved one’s presence in your life, and vice versa. Ancient Celts would see Brigid in deep wells and dark ponds; she knew the power of the water from pools in healing and the water of the womb in producing life.
What Customs Are Part of an Imbolc Wedding?
In times gone by, couples would marry at the blacksmith’s forge, as Brigid is the goddess of blacksmiths in particular. The fire of the forge represents light, heat, and life. Couples would bind their hearts and symbolize that bind by handfasting: tying a cord around their joined hands. Pagans the world around still practice handfasting.
In olden days, brides would often carry a horseshoe in their bridal bouquet to symbolize Brigid’s presence at the forge. It would be decorated with red and white ribbons — Brigid’s colors of blood and milk, birth and life, snow and sun.
In modern times, the colors of red and white are often associated with Valentine’s Day. Red symbolizes love, lust, excitement and passion. Thus, hearts are most commonly depicted in red, or in pink, mixing the two colors together. White represents reverence, peace, good and marriage, hence the tradition in the Western world of wearing a white wedding dress.
An Imbolc wedding would see the altar decorated with red and white candles, even homemade ice candles representing the snow and sun together; horseshoes representing the forge; a bowl of water to represent the wells Brigid was often seen in; new plants; a book of poetry; the first flowers of spring, such as hyacinths, daffodils and snowdrops; and healing herbs scattered about.
The couple being married could wear robes of red or white and crowns of flowers to honor the Goddess Brigid. The cord binding their hands would be red, as the color of love.
If you want a romantic winter wedding, consider Imbolc as the date for your ceremony. May the Goddess Brigid bless your union, your hearth and your home, and see you prosper as your family grows through the years. So mote it be.
Over the last few years, international travel has proven more challenging than ever before. This is predominantly due to the restrictions created by the spread of the novel coronavirus. Thankfully, the problems that caused such disruptions are slowly becoming worries of the past. This means it is once again possible to take trips to locations all over the world. For couples about to be married, it has meant that honeymooning is no longer an activity that is confined to local or domestic excursions.
Planning your dream honeymoon takes thought. Use these suggestions to narrow your search and find a destination that truly excites and delights.
What Springs to Mind?
If you’re starting without any specific ideas for your honeymoon, then you can easily begin your journey by thinking about places you have always wanted to see. This might be a childhood desire to see a location that has always captured your interest. Or you may want to use this trip as the chance to visit an ancestral homeland or to simply lounge around on a dazzling beach the whole time. By starting with the places that immediately come to mind, you can make the rest of the process much easier.
What Does Your Budget Look Like?
Naturally, having a vision of where you would like to go is not enough to get you there. Typically, the biggest obstacle you will face with your honeymoon is your budget. If you don’t have enough money for a certain spot, then it is best to look elsewhere. However, you shouldn’t discount any possible locations until you know what you can afford to spend. Couples tend to plan their excursions for right after their nuptials, though this is far from the only way to make arrangements.
If you have your heart set on a certain place, then you can likely make it work with a few financial tweaks here and there. One great option to think over is asking your guests for honeymoon donations instead of gifts. The cash you receive from your event will provide a nice boon for your trip, adding to what you have saved yourself and increasing the odds that your first choice can become a reality.
Why Pick Just One Spot?
When planning your honeymoon, you may think about your destination as a singular location. However, there’s no rule forcing you to pick just one place. Romance is an adventure, and this is your opportunity to seize the moment and make your trip into one that is truly memorable. Why go to Paris when you can also add London, Barcelona, and Berlin to the itinerary? The world is more interconnected than many realize, and travel between some nations is incredibly easy. Add some more stops to your honeymoon and maximize the experience. Also, visiting a few places on a package deal is a way to save money and see the world at the same time.
Who Can Help You?
The internet is a wonderful resource, but a lot of what you come across online is going to be promotional. Hotels, resorts, and businesses want you to visit, meaning there are countless blog posts touting the advantages of certain destinations in order to get you to make specific arrangements for accommodations. Instead of relying on what internet searches can offer, see if anyone you know can assist. Well-traveled friends and family will have lots of suggestions to offer, and many will be useful to your plans.
Since it is now possible to travel the world freely once more, you might as well think big when planning your honeymoon. You should have no problem finding a place that adds to the story of your romance.
The decision to get engaged is an important one. Marriage is a huge commitment, and planning a large event like a wedding is a very involved process that can run you a small fortune. Naturally, you might have a ton of questions after you’ve made the decision to get married. From appreciating this next stage in your life to putting the planning wheels in motion, there are a handful of points you want to hit sooner rather than later. Review these suggestions and gain more insight on how to move forward.
Enjoy the Magic of the Moment
The first and most important step after getting engaged is to stop and take stock of the decision. You’re bound to feel a lot of strong emotions after choosing to spend the rest of your life with your significant other. Giving yourself the freedom to experience your feelings can be the best way to process your decision and get excited about all that is in store. Be sure to celebrate with your partner in some capacity. Whether you go out to dinner or break open some champagne at home, mark the occasion however you can.
Decide When To Tell Others
Perhaps the most important decision is determining when to break the news of the engagement to the people you care about. The trouble with this is that once you start informing people, everyone is going to know. People tend to let things slip even when they are excellent at keeping secrets. This means you don’t want to just tell one or two people and let everyone else know later. Sit down with your partner and decide when you’d like to make the information public and how you want to go about telling everyone.
In the age of social media, you can cover all your bases at once with a “we’re engaged!” post on Facebook or Instagram. However, this shouldn’t be the way important people in your life like your parents find out. Call those who you want to tell directly, then put the information online for everyone else.
Give Yourself Room To Dream
Part of the excitement of getting engaged is dreaming about what you want your big day to look like. Unfortunately, plenty of couples rush right from engagement to planning, giving themselves very little time to play around with far-flung or creative ideas. If you really want to figure out what your perfect day looks and feels like, dream. Even if you dream outside of the realm of possibility, you’ll still gain perspective on what you want from your nuptials.
Discuss Finances
Though not as fun as some of the suggestions on this list, one of the earlier conversations to have after getting engaged is how much money you want to spend on the wedding. While you don’t need to set the budget until you’ve got a few other details arranged, this preliminary discussion can provide you with the general parameters of your event. If you know you want to spend X amount of money from the start, then you’ll have an easier time staying within the confines of your budget.
Look at Some Options
Finally, look at some options when it comes to venues and vendors. Again, there is no need to set anything in stone during the preliminary stages of planning. Still, reviewing different businesses can get you excited about your options and give you more perspective on what to expect.
Once you’re ready to get married, there are a ton of decisions to consider before you can walk down the aisle. However, basking in the joy of the moment and figuring out some early points can make the rest of the process a lot easier.
When you’re planning your wedding, you’re likely not giving the honeymoon much thought. A little research can point you toward the best destination.
Getting married is an exciting and unpredictable ride. While marriage itself is said to be a wonderful journey, it pales in comparison to the freedom and relaxation offered by the honeymoon. When you’re dedicating most of your free time to planning for your nuptials, you may not be giving the idea of your honeymoon destination the energy required to make it perfect. There are a ton of considerations, from flight prices to booking activities during the trip. Luckily, there are some simple ways to assemble a fantastic post-wedding vacation. The first step? Selecting the destination.
To help you select the right place for your honeymoon, take a look at some of these inexpensive options other couples are raving about. A little research will help point you in the right direction for your excursion.
Relaxation Is a Beach Away
Some destinations are commonplace when it comes to vacationing. You’re likely to hear all about couples who decided to rush off to the Bahamas for some beach fun or to the Mediterranean for a cruise around ancient harbors. While these can be amazing trips, you also might want something a bit more unique and a lot less expensive. The more popular the destination, the higher the costs associated with the trip. Instead of rushing into the crowds, you may want to take a less-popular path for your destination.
The city of Cartagena in Colombia may be the right speed for you. A coastal city of the Caribbean, there is an antiquated charm that can be found along the cobblestone streets and endless restaurant options. Though the idyllic scenery and friendly residents tend to attract vacationers each year, the crowds are far smaller than those you would discover in places like Paris, New York, or Milan. Cartagena offers gorgeous beaches, endless activities, and an array of authentic Colombian restaurants that will make your mouth water the moment you step foot in the city.
The European Destination
Europe is an incredibly popular continent for couples looking to explore while on their honeymoons. Still, as mentioned already, a number of these destinations will be crowded with other couples, tourists, and locals. However, Europe is a gigantic place, and you don’t need to follow the tried-and-true path to have a honeymoon that enriches your life. Forget all about London, Barcelona, and Venice, cities that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each month. Instead, you may want to set your sights on the crystal-clear waters and unmistakable charm of Croatia.
While less crowded than some spots, Croatia is a country that sees a ton of tourism each year. To avoid the masses, you may want to aim for a destination that is a bit less popular. Rovinj, for example, is a city that seems like it was plucked right out of time. The city itself has a rustic quality, with the architecture invoking a world that was lost long ago. Plus, the views of the Mediterranean help to make Rovinj a city that exudes romance. This is only one Croatian city worth considering, so take time to do your homework.
Slightly Removed From the Crowds
Finally, don’t feel like you have to avoid popular locations should you really want to travel there. You can easily make a trip to a place like Florida work if you forego the popular spots and find a location that offers you a mix of seclusion and excitement. The same is true of Mexico or anywhere else you might want to explore. Popular doesn’t mean bad, it just means you’re in for a higher price tag and more crowded streets.
Finding the perfect destination for your honeymoon is all about considering your options. Take a look at what’s out there and see what destination is most appealing to you, your partner, and your budget.
The first year of marriage can be a tricky one. Thankfully, surviving it with your partner is not a complicated endeavor. Consider these tips.
The time leading up to your wedding can be a chaotic period. With so much planning to do, you may not consider what life will be like after you’ve tied the knot. The first year of marriage can be a tricky one. There are a number of adjustments you are going to need to make in order to accommodate your new status as a couple. Thankfully, surviving the first year of marriage is not a complicated endeavor. Consider these tips to gain a little bit of insight on how to make this year an enriching one.
Conflicts Will Happen
It stands to reason that you and your significant other have already gotten into a few fights before deciding to get married. Conflict is a natural part of any relationship. For some reason, however, many couples become a lot more concerned about arguments after getting married. Though it may feel like fighting is going to put you on the path to divorce, this isn’t the case. How you handle the conflicts, however, can and will dictate the future of your relationship. Learn to pick and choose your battles. This is the best way to avoid unnecessary squabbles.
Communicate
A great way to reduce conflicts and enjoy your first year of marriage is by communicating. More often than not, problems in a relationship develop when two people are no longer on the same page. Unfortunately, it is easy to fall into the wrong habits with your spouse. When you both work long days, you may not feel like discussing relationship topics when you’re together after work. This might force you to push off issues that need attention. By focusing on open communication, you and your significant other will be able to understand where the other is coming from.
Be a Partner
During your first year together, you and your spouse will be learning how to properly support each other. Understanding how to be an actual partner to your significant other is a process of trial and error. Everyone has different needs and emotional requirements when it comes to relationships. The way you prefer to be comforted when you’re upset may be very different than what your spouse requires. The trick is paying attention and understanding the best way to provide support when it is needed from you.
Include Family
Marrying a person means you are marrying his or her entire family. This can often be a point of contention. If either of you has intense family members who cause a lot of drama or are very needy, you can’t take it out on each other. Keep communication open and mention when you feel like a family member is being too much. You also need to be receptive to criticism from your significant other about your own family. Be mindful of the way your relatives behave and the demands they place on your relationship.
Stay Physical
Physical contact is wildly important to keeping a relationship alive and healthy. While you don’t need to have sex every night, it can be good to try and be physical with one another when possible. Endless studies have shown a consistent sex life can keep the fire burning in a relationship. Get into a groove that makes sense for your own schedules during the first year of marriage, and learn how to keep romance alive for years to come.
Practice Patience
Finally, learn how to practice patience. People who are slow to anger are usually a lot easier to deal with. If you fly off the handle at every little thing, it will only cause unneeded stress in your relationship.
Surviving your first year of marriage is no small venture. Get into the right habits by following these tips, and you will be able to discover the best way to keep your love alive.
Planning a wedding can be a big financial endeavor. Here are a few ways to start thinking about money to help you plan for the big day.
Planning a wedding can be a very expensive endeavor. Whether you’re aiming for a larger affair or an intimate gathering, you need to have enough money in your budget to cover all associated expenses. It may seem daunting, but there are simple ways to see success. Giving yourself time to sit down with your significant other and create a financial plan can do wonders for the process. There are also a handful of simple ways you can adjust your lifestyle in order to save money for your big day.
Look over these financial suggestions on how to start saving money right now for your wedding. A little research and preparation will go a long way in your attempts to improve your budget.
Assess Your Debt
Most people in the current day and age are living with debt. Whether you’ve taken out loans to cover school or you have a few credit cards you need to pay off, being in debt can inhibit your ability to get ahead with your finances. As you discuss your budget with your partner, work on creating a plan of action for paying down your debt. While making minimum payments might seem sensible for managing your financial health, there are more advantages to getting rid of as much debt as possible.
By lowering the balances on your credit cards, you are freeing up money that can be applied to your wedding. Credit is a great way to take care of expenses like florists or caterers, but you can’t use this option if your cards are all at their max. Paying down your debt can also help improve your credit score. This will help immensely later on if you and your new spouse consider buying a home together.
Get a Concrete Figure
Saving money is a lot easier when you have a concrete goal to work toward. In order to see success from your efforts, you may want to start researching how much it is going to cost you to host the wedding you envision. Call vendors and venues and get a feel for pricing. Learn about the fees associated with obtaining a marriage license and any other costs that you might be responsible for. Put everything together and see what your entire wedding is going to cost.
The number might be high at first, but don’t let this get to you. Now that you have a number, you can start crafting a real financial plan to pay for it all. To create a realistic budget, you might realize that you need to eliminate certain ideas or select less expensive vendors than you had originally planned. You won’t be able to make these adjustments until you have a concrete number to work with. Get started on this as soon as possible, and you’ll have an easier time managing your finances.
Financial Help
Finally, think about any relatives who may be willing to provide financial assistance. Parents and grandparents will often contribute to or cover the costs of specific services. If someone in your life has offered to help, contact them and get an idea of what they can pay for. While you should not expect the assistance, taking someone up on the offer can be a fantastic way for you to get more out of your budget.
Paying for a wedding might be a financial headache, but there are a number of different ways to make it work. Saving money for your big day is all about giving yourself time to assess your finances and craft a plan of action based off what you can afford. Find a plan that works for you and your partner, and get started on saving for your future.
There are a number of different responsibilities when planning your wedding. But how early should you start thinking about your transportation to the venue?
There are a number of different responsibilities you need to stay aware of when you’re planning for a wedding. As the date grows closer, you want to give yourself time to ensure you have covered all of your bases. While bigger decisions like selecting a venue and determining your guest list need to be taken care of early, other tasks can be completed a bit later in the process. When you are roughly six months away from your big day, you need to think about your options regarding transportation.
Getting Started
First and foremost, you need to get this process started by thinking about who will require transportation. It is not your responsibility to make sure everyone you invite can get to the venue, but you can definitely make the process easier for your guests with a few simple decisions. If your wedding reception is being held in a different place than where the majority of your guests are staying at the end of the night, then you might want to think about hiring a shuttle service to cart your friends and family where they need to go. Alternatively, if your wedding ceremony and reception are in two different places, providing a way to get to each and then back to the hotel may be a service you want to offer.
Outside of this, there are a few people you should think about providing transportation for. The main people to focus on are you and your significant other, as well as anyone who is immediately associated with your wedding party. You may also want to think about providing an option for disabled or elderly guests, such as grandparents, to help them safely arrive where they need to be without them having to worry about driving.
Things To Think About
After determining who will need transportation, there are a few other considerations. For one, you want to think about the time of year you plan on tying the knot. Many weddings tend to take place in the spring and summer. Unfortunately, this season is also when a number of other milestone events happen for people. High school proms and graduations usually occur between May and June, meaning you might have a lot of competition when it comes to booking luxury vehicles. To avoid this, be sure to book as early as possible.
How far you have to travel is also an important point to consider. If you and the wedding party will need to cross a good amount of distance to reach your destination, it can impact the type of vehicle you select. A small limo might be fine if you only have to go a few blocks, but it can be excruciatingly cramped for longer drives. When you keep these points in mind, it can help you find a transportation option that makes everyone feel comfortable the whole way through.
Financial Considerations
Remember, the financial burden of any transportation that you and your significant other provide to guests will fall on your shoulders. If you are unable to offer any additional help to guests with regard to transportation, be sure to notify your friends and family of this as early as possible. This will help give everyone enough time to plan their rides and figure out a sensible way of getting to your event.
Transportation might not be the most pressing part of planning for your big day, but it definitely is an area you want to think about. There are a number of important aspects to think over when it comes to selecting appropriate options for your guests. Take time to assess your transportation needs, and it will help you determine the best course of action for your wedding day.
Stress is common before a wedding. But did you know that what foods you eat can make a huge difference in how you feel when you start to get nervous?
Stress is common before a wedding. It is natural to feel nervous before you make such a big life change. Of course, this does not make it any easier to deal with. When you feel exceptionally nervous, it can have a physical impact on your health. You may start to experience stomach troubles and other minor issues. In order to minimize this and feel your best, there are a few foods to consider ingesting. What you eat can make a huge difference in how you feel when you start to get upset.
Look over these suggestions on what foods to eat to calm your nerves. The right dietary adjustments may help you feel your best before your big day.
Fish
You probably already know how healthy fish is. While all fish can be a good option for your diet, salmon tends to pack more of a nutritional punch. Salmon is said to be loaded with healthy fats and omega-3s. These are purportedly useful for improving the regulation of neurotransmitters in the body. Studies have shown that consuming more salmon might be of benefit, as the fish can help individuals combat stress and anxiety by regulating important hormones like serotonin. Salmon is also considered one of the healthiest meats you can eat, which is an added bonus.
Chocolate
Do you ever eat chocolate when you are feeling low or nervous? If so, you are not alone. You may find it interesting to learn, however, that chocolate is actually a great way to combat the effects of anxiety. Not just any chocolate will do, of course. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which are responsible for fighting the free radicals in the environment that can do damage to the body. Some research suggests that antioxidants can improve brain health and function, which may improve the symptoms of anxiety.
Probiotics
You feel anxiety in your stomach because there is a connection between the brain and the gut, especially when it comes to specific hormones. A number of hormones related to fight-or-flight responses are produced in the digestive system. When you feel particularly nervous about something, you feel it in your gut because this is where the response is coming from. This means you can do a lot of good for your nerves by focusing on your stomach health and certain foods that enhance your health.
Probiotics are incredibly useful when it comes to improving the health of the digestive system. Found in yogurt and other fermented foods, these cultures are said to help restore the microflora of the gut. Replenishing the “good” bacteria in the digestive tract helps improve the way your digestive system functions and may also help you feel less stressed. Eating yogurt is one way to get more probiotics in your diet, but there are also supplements available to speed the process along.
Tea
A nice cup of tea can do wonders when you’re looking to find a bit of peace. While black tea can be nice, it also can add to your stress. Green tea has been studied for decades and has been shown to work wonders on those who are feeling nervous or anxious. The amino acid L-theanine is found in green tea, and this compound has been said to increase the feeling of being calm and collected. Herbal tea options like chamomile may also be useful when you need to unwind after a particularly frustrating day of planning your wedding.
The process of putting together a wedding can easily create a lot of stress in your life. By focusing on ways to minimize your anxiety, you can do wonders for your mental health. Eating the right foods can reduce the symptoms related to stress and help you feel more prepared to tackle whatever obstacles await.
There are many reasons to consider talking about finances early with your partner. Look over these tips for the right way to start the money conversation.
Marriage can be a very interesting and complicated arrangement. This union marks a time in your life when you will no longer be an individual who is fully independent. From this point on, all decisions you make are going to have a direct impact on another person’s life. Luckily, staying mindful of the needs of your partner is an easy way to make sure you both are on the same page. Before you walk down the aisle, however, it can be a good idea to have a discussion about finances. The “money talk” is an important one to have.
There are many reasons to consider talking about finances early with your partner. Look over these tips and find the right way to start the conversation.
Your Wedding Budget
The easiest way to begin this talk is by bringing up the topic of the wedding budget. Putting together this type of event can often cost a significant amount. In order for you to throw a wedding that lives up to the vision you both share, you need to have a strong idea of how much you can afford to spend. Before you begin planning, sit down with your significant other and start discussing finances. By having this conversation early, you can make some important decisions about the event right away.
For one, you might realize that you do not have as much money to work with as you originally believed. If you’ve discussed the issue early on, you won’t make the mistake of booking vendors that you cannot actually afford or putting any down payments toward services that fall outside of your budget. On the opposite side, your conversation might reveal you have a bit more to spend than you initially believed. Perhaps you really can afford an orchestra instead of a DJ! Be open so that you can use your funds in the wisest manner.
Your Future
Having a conversation about money does a lot more than simply provide you with a budget for your wedding. This talk also helps to lay out the groundwork of your future. Your significant other is the person you will need to turn to when times are tough. If you both have wildly different methods of spending money, it can lead to fights down the line. The money talk is the perfect opportunity to discuss how you plan on saving for the future, as well as whether you’d like joint accounts or shared credit cards.
What’s more, studies have shown that one of the top reasons couples fight is due to finances. While money can always add stress to a situation, not having an open discussion about your finances can lead to resentment and frustration. You don’t want to send your relationship into a tailspin when it can be avoided. Talk about money and be honest with your partner about how you’d like to save for the future. This can get you on the same page and help you make sensible decisions moving forward.
Control Your Reactions
While having the conversation about money, try not to overreact to anything discussed. If you’re a frugal person and your partner is frivolous with spending, criticizing your significant other about spending can seem like an attack on his or her character. No matter how strongly you feel about budgeting, be sure to be respectful with your partner and have the most open discussion possible on the matter.
There are plenty of reasons to think about having a conversation about money before the day of your wedding arrives. The earlier you have this talk, the easier it will be for you to keep frustrations to a minimum and start married life on the same page.
Alanis Morissette notwithstanding, rain on your wedding day isn’t actually ironic. However, it could be a sign of things to come. Here’s more info on that and other common wedding practices, traditions and superstitions.
Rain on Your Wedding Day
There are two schools of thought when it comes to rainy wedding–day lore. The first holds that the rain is an auspicious sign of fertility, growth and cleansing. On the other hand, some cultures believe that the rain represents all the tears the bride is going to cry during the marriage. This could be especially problematic when the couple marrying are both brides!
And a Sixpence in Your Shoe
You’re probably familiar with the bride needing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” on her wedding day. But you may not know that the rhyme actually ends with “and a sixpence in her shoe.”
Keeping a penny in your shoe will bring your marriage prosperity. Let’s be progressive and let the groom keep a penny in his shoe, too — the brides often have enough to contend with in the shoe department.
Getting Married on the Right Day
An old Celtic poem says of your prospective wedding day, “Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all.”
Weeknight weddings are becoming more popular, as more guests may have weekend plans of their own. If you can’t swing a Wednesday, definitely aim for Monday or Tuesday just to be on the safe side.
There Goes the Bride
You’re probably familiar with the tradition of the groom carrying the bride across the threshold of their home, but you may not know the origins of that custom. It was once believed that if the bride tripped over the threshold, the marriage would be visited by nothing but bad luck. The groom carrying the bride eliminates that possibility.
Wearing a White Dress
The bride’s choice of a white dress is believed by some to be a symbol of purity and innocence. However, the origins come from an old verse about the results of wearing different colors of dress.
“Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in gray, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”
The Bride Unveiled
In the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, it was believed that evil spirits and jealous witches would cast curses and hexes on the unsuspecting bride to try to steal away her happiness. The veil was worn to prevent those curses and hexes from landing.
In other cultures, though, the veil served another purpose. In arranged marriages, where the bride and groom had never met, the parents of the newlyweds-to-be wanted to keep the bride’s face hidden until the last possible moment to prevent the groom from rejecting his new wife.
Wearing Waterproof Mascara
When a bride or groom cries during their wedding, it’s often viewed as an auspicious sign. They’re believed to be shedding all the tears they have so that their marriage will have none.
Whether or not you believe in wedding-day superstitions is largely irrelevant. You know that your marriage will be what you both make of it, regardless of rain, pennies, weekend weddings, falling down, wearing a different colored dress, donning a veil or tears.
While many couples may wait until Valentine’s Day to have a romantic wedding where love is in the air, there’s another February holiday that’s just as sentimental, and we’re not talking about Groundhog Day. As loveable as Wiarton Willie is, we have another holiday in mind.
When Is It Celebrated?
Celebrated by Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere on February first or second, Imbolc is the Feast of the Goddess Brigid (or Brigit, Brig or Bree), one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the deities of ancient Ireland. Imbolc celebrates that the promise of Yule has been kept — the light is returning after the longest night of the year. Some Pagans celebrate Imbolc as a midwinter festival; for others, it’s the first day of spring.
What Does Imbolc Mean?
Imbolc means “in the belly” or “in the milk,” referencing the many pregnant animals that give birth in the spring. In Greek mythology, it’s when Persephone lights her lamp in Hades and begins her journey back to the Earth; she’ll arrive in spring.
Who Is Brigid?
Brigid is the goddess of poets, healers, and smithcrafters, such as blacksmiths and coppersmiths. Poets all but embody love; the 40 million Valentine’s cards sent in Canada certainly attest to that. Poets know that a word after a word after a word is power, both to hurt and to conjure magic out of thin air. But healers and smithcrafters? How do they fit into the loving feelings of Imbolc?
Healers bring forth life and fight to protect it against all ills. What could be more loving than that? If not for healers, your beloved might not even be there for you. If he or she ever battled for life, you have a healer to thank for your loved one’s presence in your life, and vice versa. Ancient Celts would see Brigid in deep wells and dark ponds; she knew the power of the water from pools in healing and the water of the womb in producing life.
What Customs Are Part of an Imbolc Wedding?
In times gone by, couples would marry at the blacksmith’s forge, as Brigid is the goddess of blacksmiths in particular. The fire of the forge represents light, heat, and life. Couples would bind their hearts and symbolize that bind by handfasting: tying a cord around their joined hands. Pagans the world around still practice handfasting.
In olden days, brides would often carry a horseshoe in their bridal bouquet to symbolize Brigid’s presence at the forge. It would be decorated with red and white ribbons — Brigid’s colors of blood and milk, birth and life, snow and sun.
In modern times, the colors of red and white are often associated with Valentine’s Day. Red symbolizes love, lust, excitement and passion. Thus, hearts are most commonly depicted in red, or in pink, mixing the two colors together. White represents reverence, peace, good and marriage, hence the tradition in the Western world of wearing a white wedding dress.
An Imbolc wedding would see the altar decorated with red and white candles, even homemade ice candles representing the snow and sun together; horseshoes representing the forge; a bowl of water to represent the wells Brigid was often seen in; new plants; a book of poetry; the first flowers of spring, such as hyacinths, daffodils and snowdrops; and healing herbs scattered about.
The couple being married could wear robes of red or white and crowns of flowers to honor the Goddess Brigid. The cord binding their hands would be red, as the color of love.
If you want a romantic winter wedding, consider Imbolc as the date for your ceremony. May the Goddess Brigid bless your union, your hearth and your home, and see you prosper as your family grows through the years. So mote it be.
Over the last few years, international travel has proven more challenging than ever before. This is predominantly due to the restrictions created by the spread of the novel coronavirus. Thankfully, the problems that caused such disruptions are slowly becoming worries of the past. This means it is once again possible to take trips to locations all over the world. For couples about to be married, it has meant that honeymooning is no longer an activity that is confined to local or domestic excursions.
Planning your dream honeymoon takes thought. Use these suggestions to narrow your search and find a destination that truly excites and delights.
What Springs to Mind?
If you’re starting without any specific ideas for your honeymoon, then you can easily begin your journey by thinking about places you have always wanted to see. This might be a childhood desire to see a location that has always captured your interest. Or you may want to use this trip as the chance to visit an ancestral homeland or to simply lounge around on a dazzling beach the whole time. By starting with the places that immediately come to mind, you can make the rest of the process much easier.
What Does Your Budget Look Like?
Naturally, having a vision of where you would like to go is not enough to get you there. Typically, the biggest obstacle you will face with your honeymoon is your budget. If you don’t have enough money for a certain spot, then it is best to look elsewhere. However, you shouldn’t discount any possible locations until you know what you can afford to spend. Couples tend to plan their excursions for right after their nuptials, though this is far from the only way to make arrangements.
If you have your heart set on a certain place, then you can likely make it work with a few financial tweaks here and there. One great option to think over is asking your guests for honeymoon donations instead of gifts. The cash you receive from your event will provide a nice boon for your trip, adding to what you have saved yourself and increasing the odds that your first choice can become a reality.
Why Pick Just One Spot?
When planning your honeymoon, you may think about your destination as a singular location. However, there’s no rule forcing you to pick just one place. Romance is an adventure, and this is your opportunity to seize the moment and make your trip into one that is truly memorable. Why go to Paris when you can also add London, Barcelona, and Berlin to the itinerary? The world is more interconnected than many realize, and travel between some nations is incredibly easy. Add some more stops to your honeymoon and maximize the experience. Also, visiting a few places on a package deal is a way to save money and see the world at the same time.
Who Can Help You?
The internet is a wonderful resource, but a lot of what you come across online is going to be promotional. Hotels, resorts, and businesses want you to visit, meaning there are countless blog posts touting the advantages of certain destinations in order to get you to make specific arrangements for accommodations. Instead of relying on what internet searches can offer, see if anyone you know can assist. Well-traveled friends and family will have lots of suggestions to offer, and many will be useful to your plans.
Since it is now possible to travel the world freely once more, you might as well think big when planning your honeymoon. You should have no problem finding a place that adds to the story of your romance.
The decision to get engaged is an important one. Marriage is a huge commitment, and planning a large event like a wedding is a very involved process that can run you a small fortune. Naturally, you might have a ton of questions after you’ve made the decision to get married. From appreciating this next stage in your life to putting the planning wheels in motion, there are a handful of points you want to hit sooner rather than later. Review these suggestions and gain more insight on how to move forward.
Enjoy the Magic of the Moment
The first and most important step after getting engaged is to stop and take stock of the decision. You’re bound to feel a lot of strong emotions after choosing to spend the rest of your life with your significant other. Giving yourself the freedom to experience your feelings can be the best way to process your decision and get excited about all that is in store. Be sure to celebrate with your partner in some capacity. Whether you go out to dinner or break open some champagne at home, mark the occasion however you can.
Decide When To Tell Others
Perhaps the most important decision is determining when to break the news of the engagement to the people you care about. The trouble with this is that once you start informing people, everyone is going to know. People tend to let things slip even when they are excellent at keeping secrets. This means you don’t want to just tell one or two people and let everyone else know later. Sit down with your partner and decide when you’d like to make the information public and how you want to go about telling everyone.
In the age of social media, you can cover all your bases at once with a “we’re engaged!” post on Facebook or Instagram. However, this shouldn’t be the way important people in your life like your parents find out. Call those who you want to tell directly, then put the information online for everyone else.
Give Yourself Room To Dream
Part of the excitement of getting engaged is dreaming about what you want your big day to look like. Unfortunately, plenty of couples rush right from engagement to planning, giving themselves very little time to play around with far-flung or creative ideas. If you really want to figure out what your perfect day looks and feels like, dream. Even if you dream outside of the realm of possibility, you’ll still gain perspective on what you want from your nuptials.
Discuss Finances
Though not as fun as some of the suggestions on this list, one of the earlier conversations to have after getting engaged is how much money you want to spend on the wedding. While you don’t need to set the budget until you’ve got a few other details arranged, this preliminary discussion can provide you with the general parameters of your event. If you know you want to spend X amount of money from the start, then you’ll have an easier time staying within the confines of your budget.
Look at Some Options
Finally, look at some options when it comes to venues and vendors. Again, there is no need to set anything in stone during the preliminary stages of planning. Still, reviewing different businesses can get you excited about your options and give you more perspective on what to expect.
Once you’re ready to get married, there are a ton of decisions to consider before you can walk down the aisle. However, basking in the joy of the moment and figuring out some early points can make the rest of the process a lot easier.
When you’re planning your wedding, you’re likely not giving the honeymoon much thought. A little research can point you toward the best destination.
Getting married is an exciting and unpredictable ride. While marriage itself is said to be a wonderful journey, it pales in comparison to the freedom and relaxation offered by the honeymoon. When you’re dedicating most of your free time to planning for your nuptials, you may not be giving the idea of your honeymoon destination the energy required to make it perfect. There are a ton of considerations, from flight prices to booking activities during the trip. Luckily, there are some simple ways to assemble a fantastic post-wedding vacation. The first step? Selecting the destination.
To help you select the right place for your honeymoon, take a look at some of these inexpensive options other couples are raving about. A little research will help point you in the right direction for your excursion.
Relaxation Is a Beach Away
Some destinations are commonplace when it comes to vacationing. You’re likely to hear all about couples who decided to rush off to the Bahamas for some beach fun or to the Mediterranean for a cruise around ancient harbors. While these can be amazing trips, you also might want something a bit more unique and a lot less expensive. The more popular the destination, the higher the costs associated with the trip. Instead of rushing into the crowds, you may want to take a less-popular path for your destination.
The city of Cartagena in Colombia may be the right speed for you. A coastal city of the Caribbean, there is an antiquated charm that can be found along the cobblestone streets and endless restaurant options. Though the idyllic scenery and friendly residents tend to attract vacationers each year, the crowds are far smaller than those you would discover in places like Paris, New York, or Milan. Cartagena offers gorgeous beaches, endless activities, and an array of authentic Colombian restaurants that will make your mouth water the moment you step foot in the city.
The European Destination
Europe is an incredibly popular continent for couples looking to explore while on their honeymoons. Still, as mentioned already, a number of these destinations will be crowded with other couples, tourists, and locals. However, Europe is a gigantic place, and you don’t need to follow the tried-and-true path to have a honeymoon that enriches your life. Forget all about London, Barcelona, and Venice, cities that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each month. Instead, you may want to set your sights on the crystal-clear waters and unmistakable charm of Croatia.
While less crowded than some spots, Croatia is a country that sees a ton of tourism each year. To avoid the masses, you may want to aim for a destination that is a bit less popular. Rovinj, for example, is a city that seems like it was plucked right out of time. The city itself has a rustic quality, with the architecture invoking a world that was lost long ago. Plus, the views of the Mediterranean help to make Rovinj a city that exudes romance. This is only one Croatian city worth considering, so take time to do your homework.
Slightly Removed From the Crowds
Finally, don’t feel like you have to avoid popular locations should you really want to travel there. You can easily make a trip to a place like Florida work if you forego the popular spots and find a location that offers you a mix of seclusion and excitement. The same is true of Mexico or anywhere else you might want to explore. Popular doesn’t mean bad, it just means you’re in for a higher price tag and more crowded streets.
Finding the perfect destination for your honeymoon is all about considering your options. Take a look at what’s out there and see what destination is most appealing to you, your partner, and your budget.
The first year of marriage can be a tricky one. Thankfully, surviving it with your partner is not a complicated endeavor. Consider these tips.
The time leading up to your wedding can be a chaotic period. With so much planning to do, you may not consider what life will be like after you’ve tied the knot. The first year of marriage can be a tricky one. There are a number of adjustments you are going to need to make in order to accommodate your new status as a couple. Thankfully, surviving the first year of marriage is not a complicated endeavor. Consider these tips to gain a little bit of insight on how to make this year an enriching one.
Conflicts Will Happen
It stands to reason that you and your significant other have already gotten into a few fights before deciding to get married. Conflict is a natural part of any relationship. For some reason, however, many couples become a lot more concerned about arguments after getting married. Though it may feel like fighting is going to put you on the path to divorce, this isn’t the case. How you handle the conflicts, however, can and will dictate the future of your relationship. Learn to pick and choose your battles. This is the best way to avoid unnecessary squabbles.
Communicate
A great way to reduce conflicts and enjoy your first year of marriage is by communicating. More often than not, problems in a relationship develop when two people are no longer on the same page. Unfortunately, it is easy to fall into the wrong habits with your spouse. When you both work long days, you may not feel like discussing relationship topics when you’re together after work. This might force you to push off issues that need attention. By focusing on open communication, you and your significant other will be able to understand where the other is coming from.
Be a Partner
During your first year together, you and your spouse will be learning how to properly support each other. Understanding how to be an actual partner to your significant other is a process of trial and error. Everyone has different needs and emotional requirements when it comes to relationships. The way you prefer to be comforted when you’re upset may be very different than what your spouse requires. The trick is paying attention and understanding the best way to provide support when it is needed from you.
Include Family
Marrying a person means you are marrying his or her entire family. This can often be a point of contention. If either of you has intense family members who cause a lot of drama or are very needy, you can’t take it out on each other. Keep communication open and mention when you feel like a family member is being too much. You also need to be receptive to criticism from your significant other about your own family. Be mindful of the way your relatives behave and the demands they place on your relationship.
Stay Physical
Physical contact is wildly important to keeping a relationship alive and healthy. While you don’t need to have sex every night, it can be good to try and be physical with one another when possible. Endless studies have shown a consistent sex life can keep the fire burning in a relationship. Get into a groove that makes sense for your own schedules during the first year of marriage, and learn how to keep romance alive for years to come.
Practice Patience
Finally, learn how to practice patience. People who are slow to anger are usually a lot easier to deal with. If you fly off the handle at every little thing, it will only cause unneeded stress in your relationship.
Surviving your first year of marriage is no small venture. Get into the right habits by following these tips, and you will be able to discover the best way to keep your love alive.
Planning a wedding can be a big financial endeavor. Here are a few ways to start thinking about money to help you plan for the big day.
Planning a wedding can be a very expensive endeavor. Whether you’re aiming for a larger affair or an intimate gathering, you need to have enough money in your budget to cover all associated expenses. It may seem daunting, but there are simple ways to see success. Giving yourself time to sit down with your significant other and create a financial plan can do wonders for the process. There are also a handful of simple ways you can adjust your lifestyle in order to save money for your big day.
Look over these financial suggestions on how to start saving money right now for your wedding. A little research and preparation will go a long way in your attempts to improve your budget.
Assess Your Debt
Most people in the current day and age are living with debt. Whether you’ve taken out loans to cover school or you have a few credit cards you need to pay off, being in debt can inhibit your ability to get ahead with your finances. As you discuss your budget with your partner, work on creating a plan of action for paying down your debt. While making minimum payments might seem sensible for managing your financial health, there are more advantages to getting rid of as much debt as possible.
By lowering the balances on your credit cards, you are freeing up money that can be applied to your wedding. Credit is a great way to take care of expenses like florists or caterers, but you can’t use this option if your cards are all at their max. Paying down your debt can also help improve your credit score. This will help immensely later on if you and your new spouse consider buying a home together.
Get a Concrete Figure
Saving money is a lot easier when you have a concrete goal to work toward. In order to see success from your efforts, you may want to start researching how much it is going to cost you to host the wedding you envision. Call vendors and venues and get a feel for pricing. Learn about the fees associated with obtaining a marriage license and any other costs that you might be responsible for. Put everything together and see what your entire wedding is going to cost.
The number might be high at first, but don’t let this get to you. Now that you have a number, you can start crafting a real financial plan to pay for it all. To create a realistic budget, you might realize that you need to eliminate certain ideas or select less expensive vendors than you had originally planned. You won’t be able to make these adjustments until you have a concrete number to work with. Get started on this as soon as possible, and you’ll have an easier time managing your finances.
Financial Help
Finally, think about any relatives who may be willing to provide financial assistance. Parents and grandparents will often contribute to or cover the costs of specific services. If someone in your life has offered to help, contact them and get an idea of what they can pay for. While you should not expect the assistance, taking someone up on the offer can be a fantastic way for you to get more out of your budget.
Paying for a wedding might be a financial headache, but there are a number of different ways to make it work. Saving money for your big day is all about giving yourself time to assess your finances and craft a plan of action based off what you can afford. Find a plan that works for you and your partner, and get started on saving for your future.
There are a number of different responsibilities when planning your wedding. But how early should you start thinking about your transportation to the venue?
There are a number of different responsibilities you need to stay aware of when you’re planning for a wedding. As the date grows closer, you want to give yourself time to ensure you have covered all of your bases. While bigger decisions like selecting a venue and determining your guest list need to be taken care of early, other tasks can be completed a bit later in the process. When you are roughly six months away from your big day, you need to think about your options regarding transportation.
Getting Started
First and foremost, you need to get this process started by thinking about who will require transportation. It is not your responsibility to make sure everyone you invite can get to the venue, but you can definitely make the process easier for your guests with a few simple decisions. If your wedding reception is being held in a different place than where the majority of your guests are staying at the end of the night, then you might want to think about hiring a shuttle service to cart your friends and family where they need to go. Alternatively, if your wedding ceremony and reception are in two different places, providing a way to get to each and then back to the hotel may be a service you want to offer.
Outside of this, there are a few people you should think about providing transportation for. The main people to focus on are you and your significant other, as well as anyone who is immediately associated with your wedding party. You may also want to think about providing an option for disabled or elderly guests, such as grandparents, to help them safely arrive where they need to be without them having to worry about driving.
Things To Think About
After determining who will need transportation, there are a few other considerations. For one, you want to think about the time of year you plan on tying the knot. Many weddings tend to take place in the spring and summer. Unfortunately, this season is also when a number of other milestone events happen for people. High school proms and graduations usually occur between May and June, meaning you might have a lot of competition when it comes to booking luxury vehicles. To avoid this, be sure to book as early as possible.
How far you have to travel is also an important point to consider. If you and the wedding party will need to cross a good amount of distance to reach your destination, it can impact the type of vehicle you select. A small limo might be fine if you only have to go a few blocks, but it can be excruciatingly cramped for longer drives. When you keep these points in mind, it can help you find a transportation option that makes everyone feel comfortable the whole way through.
Financial Considerations
Remember, the financial burden of any transportation that you and your significant other provide to guests will fall on your shoulders. If you are unable to offer any additional help to guests with regard to transportation, be sure to notify your friends and family of this as early as possible. This will help give everyone enough time to plan their rides and figure out a sensible way of getting to your event.
Transportation might not be the most pressing part of planning for your big day, but it definitely is an area you want to think about. There are a number of important aspects to think over when it comes to selecting appropriate options for your guests. Take time to assess your transportation needs, and it will help you determine the best course of action for your wedding day.
Stress is common before a wedding. But did you know that what foods you eat can make a huge difference in how you feel when you start to get nervous?
Stress is common before a wedding. It is natural to feel nervous before you make such a big life change. Of course, this does not make it any easier to deal with. When you feel exceptionally nervous, it can have a physical impact on your health. You may start to experience stomach troubles and other minor issues. In order to minimize this and feel your best, there are a few foods to consider ingesting. What you eat can make a huge difference in how you feel when you start to get upset.
Look over these suggestions on what foods to eat to calm your nerves. The right dietary adjustments may help you feel your best before your big day.
Fish
You probably already know how healthy fish is. While all fish can be a good option for your diet, salmon tends to pack more of a nutritional punch. Salmon is said to be loaded with healthy fats and omega-3s. These are purportedly useful for improving the regulation of neurotransmitters in the body. Studies have shown that consuming more salmon might be of benefit, as the fish can help individuals combat stress and anxiety by regulating important hormones like serotonin. Salmon is also considered one of the healthiest meats you can eat, which is an added bonus.
Chocolate
Do you ever eat chocolate when you are feeling low or nervous? If so, you are not alone. You may find it interesting to learn, however, that chocolate is actually a great way to combat the effects of anxiety. Not just any chocolate will do, of course. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which are responsible for fighting the free radicals in the environment that can do damage to the body. Some research suggests that antioxidants can improve brain health and function, which may improve the symptoms of anxiety.
Probiotics
You feel anxiety in your stomach because there is a connection between the brain and the gut, especially when it comes to specific hormones. A number of hormones related to fight-or-flight responses are produced in the digestive system. When you feel particularly nervous about something, you feel it in your gut because this is where the response is coming from. This means you can do a lot of good for your nerves by focusing on your stomach health and certain foods that enhance your health.
Probiotics are incredibly useful when it comes to improving the health of the digestive system. Found in yogurt and other fermented foods, these cultures are said to help restore the microflora of the gut. Replenishing the “good” bacteria in the digestive tract helps improve the way your digestive system functions and may also help you feel less stressed. Eating yogurt is one way to get more probiotics in your diet, but there are also supplements available to speed the process along.
Tea
A nice cup of tea can do wonders when you’re looking to find a bit of peace. While black tea can be nice, it also can add to your stress. Green tea has been studied for decades and has been shown to work wonders on those who are feeling nervous or anxious. The amino acid L-theanine is found in green tea, and this compound has been said to increase the feeling of being calm and collected. Herbal tea options like chamomile may also be useful when you need to unwind after a particularly frustrating day of planning your wedding.
The process of putting together a wedding can easily create a lot of stress in your life. By focusing on ways to minimize your anxiety, you can do wonders for your mental health. Eating the right foods can reduce the symptoms related to stress and help you feel more prepared to tackle whatever obstacles await.
There are many reasons to consider talking about finances early with your partner. Look over these tips for the right way to start the money conversation.
Marriage can be a very interesting and complicated arrangement. This union marks a time in your life when you will no longer be an individual who is fully independent. From this point on, all decisions you make are going to have a direct impact on another person’s life. Luckily, staying mindful of the needs of your partner is an easy way to make sure you both are on the same page. Before you walk down the aisle, however, it can be a good idea to have a discussion about finances. The “money talk” is an important one to have.
There are many reasons to consider talking about finances early with your partner. Look over these tips and find the right way to start the conversation.
Your Wedding Budget
The easiest way to begin this talk is by bringing up the topic of the wedding budget. Putting together this type of event can often cost a significant amount. In order for you to throw a wedding that lives up to the vision you both share, you need to have a strong idea of how much you can afford to spend. Before you begin planning, sit down with your significant other and start discussing finances. By having this conversation early, you can make some important decisions about the event right away.
For one, you might realize that you do not have as much money to work with as you originally believed. If you’ve discussed the issue early on, you won’t make the mistake of booking vendors that you cannot actually afford or putting any down payments toward services that fall outside of your budget. On the opposite side, your conversation might reveal you have a bit more to spend than you initially believed. Perhaps you really can afford an orchestra instead of a DJ! Be open so that you can use your funds in the wisest manner.
Your Future
Having a conversation about money does a lot more than simply provide you with a budget for your wedding. This talk also helps to lay out the groundwork of your future. Your significant other is the person you will need to turn to when times are tough. If you both have wildly different methods of spending money, it can lead to fights down the line. The money talk is the perfect opportunity to discuss how you plan on saving for the future, as well as whether you’d like joint accounts or shared credit cards.
What’s more, studies have shown that one of the top reasons couples fight is due to finances. While money can always add stress to a situation, not having an open discussion about your finances can lead to resentment and frustration. You don’t want to send your relationship into a tailspin when it can be avoided. Talk about money and be honest with your partner about how you’d like to save for the future. This can get you on the same page and help you make sensible decisions moving forward.
Control Your Reactions
While having the conversation about money, try not to overreact to anything discussed. If you’re a frugal person and your partner is frivolous with spending, criticizing your significant other about spending can seem like an attack on his or her character. No matter how strongly you feel about budgeting, be sure to be respectful with your partner and have the most open discussion possible on the matter.
There are plenty of reasons to think about having a conversation about money before the day of your wedding arrives. The earlier you have this talk, the easier it will be for you to keep frustrations to a minimum and start married life on the same page.
