Who Walks You Down The Aisle

As times continue to change and weddings become more personalised, brides are asking: Who walks me down the aisle? We all know the traditional answer. Look at any wedding ceremony processional guide, and you’ll find the bride is escorted by her father. Today's bride has many more options! For brides with fathers at home, You may decide to share the longstanding tradition with your father. Your Dad will be honoured to give his little girl away to be married to the love of her life. But if “Traditional” is not for you there are plenty of important figures in your life that would be honoured and deserve to be honoured. Who will you choose to walk you down the aisle?

Brides in any circumstance deserve to feel radiant as they walk down the aisle at their weddings As a cornerstone of the ceremony, this walk lets the bride make her wedding day debut special and memorable. Naturally, Las Vegas brides, you want someone with you who will make you feel confident and calm as you take steps to transition into a new phase of life as a married woman. That special person could be your mom or dad.  If your parents are not available to walk you down the aisle for whatever reason, embrace your identity as a modern bride.

Recently, we spoke with several brides to explore what they would recommend, from the classic “father of the bride” walk down the aisle to nontraditional methods for brides who were from non-traditional families. Of course, each bride is different. You have to find what best works for you, your family, and your fiance. But if you aren’t sure where to start, here are a few “walk down the aisle” options:

If your father and mother are married and both are important to you: You love the idea of walking down the aisle with Dad. However, since Mom played a huge role in your life too, you don’t want her to feel like she’s not included or recognised in your wedding. Ask Mom how she wants to be involved. Does she want to walk you down the aisle? She may be completely content letting Dad walk you down the aisle since she’s involved in many separate, important roles in the wedding. But if you both feel that’s not enough, feel free to ask Mom to escort you down the aisle with Dad. With one parent on each arm, you’ll show your guests just how important both your parents are to you.

If you want your father to walk you down the aisle: You’ve always known Dad would walk you down the aisle. Now that special moment is coming quicker than you can imagine, and you can’t wait to share this special moment as father and daughter. When you walk together at your wedding, take small steps to take your time and soak in the moment. Share a few final words with Dad, who raised you, loved you, and is now letting you go for you to become the woman he always hoped you’d be. Even if you don’t remember what was said, you’ll remember the way you felt on your wedding day, arm-in-arm with Dad as he walked you to your groom. These feelings can be the same even if you have two dads or two moms, walk with the parents or person who is most special to you.

If your parents and step parents equally important to you: Your parents are divorced, and both Mom and Dad have been remarried for years. You’ve always considered yourself lucky because you have two father figures--Dad and Step Dad--and both have always treated you like their own kid. Or you may have two mother figures. Since you love them both and want to show them your appreciation, you can ask both sets of parents to be involved in the wedding aisle walk. Have one of them walk you halfway. When you reach  halfway down the aisle, have the other parent(s) walk you the rest of the way and give your hand to your fiance. Also, if you have enough room in the aisle way, you can consider having one "father" figure on each arm the whole way.

If your father has passed away: You love your Dad, and you always envisioned him walking you down the aisle for your wedding day. Even if he isn’t physically present, you can include his memory in the ceremony. Ask your mom, uncle, grandparent, sister or brother. You may consider walking alone since no one can truly fill Dad or Mom's shoes. Just remember it may be beneficial to have someone who loves you and supports you at your side for this big moment on your special day.

If your biological parent wants to walk you down the aisle but your stepparent raised you: You see your biological parent once a year or so but they did not raise you,  On the other hand, your stepparent has been consistently there for you, and your siblings. You wish your step parent could walk you down the aisle, but your other parent is getting demanding. If he can’t walk you all the way, he won’t come to your wedding. As the bride, you deserve to make the decision of who will walk you, not to have it made for you. If you want both parents to be involved, consider compromises, like having them both walk with you.  However, if you’d regret having your biological father or mother give you away, then you’ll have to talk with them. Calmly explain that you would love to have them in attendance at your wedding. However, you are the bride and you are the one with the right to decide who walks you down the aisle. If you have wholeheartedly chosen only your step parent for your walk, don’t let family drama deter you. Hope for the best, and remember how happy you’ll be when you’re supported on your wedding day walk by the parent who has supported you every day of your life.

If your mother and/or extended family raised you: Dad has never been in the picture. Mom has raised you, and she did a pretty good job, if you do say so yourself. Now that you’re older, she’s become not just a mother, but also a good friend. Honour Mom by asking her to walk with you down the aisle. If you were raised by Mom’s family as a joint effort, consider asking extended family members. If you are close to your grandfather or an uncle, ask him to walk you down the aisle and give your hand to your groom. Don’t forget to think about your brother. If he has always been there for you, he might be honoured to step up and fill these shoes. Whichever family member you choose for the aisle walk, they’ll all be there as guests to support your marriage.

If you are afraid of upsetting too many people by choosing the wrong person: You have no idea who to choose for your aisle walk. In the wake of your parents’ divorce, Mom’s family would take it as a personal affront if you to choose to walk with Dad. You considered asking your best friend who’s had your back since middle school, but he thinks it’s horridly inappropriate. Your brother is volunteering, but you haven’t been close in recent years. Rather than deal with this, you just want to throw your hands in the air and walk by yourself. While this may solve the problem, you don’t want to look back on your wedding with regrets. Talk with your groom, and decide together what would be appropriate and make you happy. Then find a way to make it happen. Easier said than done, we know. See how you can compromise and remind yourself that this is your wedding. While that doesn’t give you power to lord over others, it does give you the right to choose who you want to walk you down the aisle, whether it’s your father or your groom himself.

If you are getting remarried: Dad walked with you once, and he is willing to support you again. If you would like him to escort you down the aisle, then go for it! There’s nothing that says you can’t walk with him just because you haven’t been living under his roof for fifteen years. Enjoy this special moment with Dad. However, if you’ve grown apart from your parents, you’re also allowed to consider your options. If you have a son who’s old enough and mature, ask him if he would like to participate in your new marriage in this way. Either way, make sure that you and the person you’re walking with feels comfortable and proud to be walking down the wedding aisle arm-in-arm.

If you want to walk alone: You’ve been on your own for a long time, and there are no family members who you feel comfortable asking. Also, as an independent bride, you worry that leaning on someone else’ arm as you walk down the aisle shows you’re not self-sufficient. We’re all about beautiful brides with spirit. By carrying yourself to your fiance, you certainly can symbolise your independence as a woman as well as your choice, not anyone else’s decision, to join with your partner in marriage. However, we recommend walking down the aisle with someone not because we doubt what you’re made of. Rather, we know how special it is to have someone with you to share those moments and morally support you as you enter a new stage of life. If you’re walking alone, consider your motives, your family’s wishes, and your happiness with this decision. If you’re walking alone to dodge family drama, then consider compromises and ultimately choose what makes you feel the most happy and supported on your wedding day. However, if you’re confident about going solo and you can gather all the support you need by looking to the end of the aisle where your groom awaits, then step out and strut down that aisle on your own to your future husband. From that moment forward, you’ll never have to walk alone again.

How to Choose: Final Thoughts
As a bride, you can choose whatever you want for your walk down the aisle. Keep your family’s feelings in mind, and do your best to make sure all sides are pleased. But remember this is your wedding day. Don’t compromise your happiness. If family drama arises, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. You’re the bride. You deserve to be happy on your wedding day.

When you walk down the aisle at your wedding, walk with someone who loves you and supports your decision to marry your loved one. Enjoy the moment, and take time to absorb the conversation, the emotion, and even your surroundings, from attending guests to decor. Then you’ll feel at ease and at peace for the moment you’ll take your groom’s hand, say your vows, and begin your blessed marriage as a happy couple.

Getting Married

Traditionally, who pays for what?

As a reference, below is a list of the traditional expenses and responsibilities of the bride’s and groom’s families, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and even the wedding guests. Keep in mind that these days, all of the following guidelines for family expenses are variable—depending on the particular circumstances of the wedding. Often, expenses are shared by the couple and their families, so assign the responsibilities to fit your circumstances.

Traditional Expenses of the Bride and Her Family

• Services of a wedding consultant
• Invitations, enclosures, and announcements
• The bride’s wedding gown and accessories
• Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridesmaids’ flowers
• The bride’s bouquet (unless it is customary for the groom to pay for it)
• Tent, awning, aisle runner
• Music for church and reception
• Transportation of bridal party to ceremony and to reception
• All reception expenses
• Services of a traffic officer or security, if necessary
• Photographer, wedding photographs, wedding albums
• Videographer and finished DVD
• Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant if from another town and if invited to officiate by the bride’s family
• Accommodations for bride’s attendants
• Bridesmaids’ luncheon, if hosted by the bride or her family
• Bride’s gifts to her attendants
• Bride’s gift to groom
• Groom’s wedding ring

Traditional Expenses of the Groom and His Family

• Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
• Groom’s attire
• Ties and gloves for the groomsmen, if not part of their clothing rental package
• Accommodations for the groom’s attendants
• Accommodations for the groom’s parents and siblings
• Bachelor dinner, if the groom wishes to give one
• All costs for the rehearsal dinner
• Officiant’s fee or donation
• Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant, if from another town and if invited to officiate by the groom’s family
• The marriage license
• Transportation for the groom and best man to the ceremony
• The bride’s bouquet (when it is local custom for the groom to pay for it)
• The bride’s going away corsage, if wearing one
• Boutonnieres for groom’s attendants
• Corsages for immediate members of both families (unless the bride has included them in her florist’s order)
• The officiant’s fee or donation
• Groom’s gift to bride
• Gifts for groom’s attendants
• Honeymoon expenses

Maid of Honor’s/Bridesmaids’ Expenses

• Purchase of apparel and all accessories
• Transportation to and from the wedding location
• A contribution to a gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride
• An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)
• Optionally, a shower, luncheon, or hens party for the bride

Best Man’s/Groomsmen’s/Ushers’ Expenses

• Rental or purchase of wedding attire
• Transportation to and from the wedding location
• A bachelor dinner, if given by the groom’s attendants
• A contribution to a gift from all the groomsmen to the groom
• An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)

Guests’ Expenses

• Transportation to and from the wedding
• Lodging expenses and meals
• Wedding gift
  

Wedding Gifts from the Groom's Parents

When a son is getting married, parents of the groom often want to get their child and his new wife a special gift. Although there are guidelines on what the parents of the groom are supposed to pay for during a wedding, there are no real rules of etiquette regarding gifts they should get the new couple. Most couples have a wedding registry filled with items they prefer as gifts, but most parents choose to get their child something more special. Whether the groom's parents have a small or large budget, there are several gift ideas parents of the groom can utilize when looking for the perfect wedding gift.

Wedding Gift Ideas

Parents of the groom who want to give a special wedding gift to their son and his bride should give the gift to the couple together either at the rehearsal dinner, the morning of the ceremony on in the few days leading up the ceremony.

Money

Although money seems like an impersonal gift, it is an appropriate from the groom's parents, and one that can be very helpful for the new couple. Once the groom's parents have decided upon an amount they are comfortable with, the gift can be given just as money for the couple to use to get on their feet, or for a more specific purpose. For example, the parents may give money with the intention of the couple paying for the honeymoon, or using it as a down payment for a new home.

Heirloom

A family heirloom is another gift that is an appropriate way to celebrate the start of a new union. Items that have been passed down from generation to generation within the family can be given to the couple. An item, such as a piece of jewelry owned by someone in the groom's family can also be given to the bride to welcome her to her new family. New heirlooms can also be given for the couple to cherish such as a bottle of fine wine or liquor that comes with instructions to open on a specific anniversary down the road.

Accommodations

Paying for special accommodations for the bride and groom can be a special wedding present to make the bride and groom's special day even more memorable. Parents of the groom can arrange for special accommodations for the bride and groom to get ready on the day of the ceremony, or the day after the ceremony if the couple is not leaving for a honeymoon right away. Also, parents can get their son and his wife a special hotel room in which to spend their first night together as husband and wife. The accommodations given as a gift should be special and more than just a standard hotel room. If the couple already has accommodations, a gift of surprising them with an upgraded suite or room can be given as well.

Shower Gift Ideas

Wedding shower gifts are often given at the bridal shower, where the son is not in attendance. Even though the son may not be at the actual shower, the gift should still be for both the bride and the groom to enjoy together.

Gift Certificates

Gift certificates may not seem like personal wedding shower gifts, but giving gift certificates to help the couple pay for something in lieu of handing them cash is a more appropriate gesture for a shower. Certificates for the groom to get his hair cut and the bride to get her hair done on the morning of the wedding make thoughtful gestures and make for one less thing the new couple has to pay for themselves. Gift certificates for the couple use on the honeymoon are both thoughtful and useful. Many times, the bride and groom are responsible for paying for all of the meals and activities on their honeymoon, which can get costly. Items for area restaurants or spas that the couple can use together make great gifts.

Items for the Wedding

A wedding shower is a great time for parents of the groom to give the couple a special gift that can be used during their ceremony or reception and then kept as a keepsake. Prior to purchasing a gift, the groom's parents should check with the bride's parents to make sure they haven't already purchased the same gift for the couple. Most wedding keepsakes can be personalized with the bride and grooms name and the date of the wedding. Some wedding keepsake ideas are:

• Guest books
• Unity candles
• Cake knife and server
• Champagne flutes for toasting

Gift Giving Etiquette

Some parents choose to simply fulfill their traditional responsibilities for the wedding and forgo giving an additional gift. According to most rules of etiquette, the parents of the groom are responsible for paying for the rehearsal dinner and boutonnieres and corsages for immediate family members. The grooms parents may also pay for the honeymoon, the groom's cake and the alcohol at the reception. However, many parents of the groom also volunteer to help with other expenses as a gift.

Letters

Parents who volunteer to pay for all of these items may choose to be more budget-conscious about another gift, so it is acceptable to give the bride and groom a special letter and a small token of good luck on the day of the wedding. According to common rules of etiquette, it is a polite gesture to write a letter to the bride and to her parents on the day of the wedding. The letter should welcome the bride and her family to the groom's family.

The Perfect Wedding Gifts

No matter what type of gift parents of the groom decide to give their son and his new bride, gifts should always focus around the new couple and their love for one another. While choosing a gift keep the couple's personalities in mind to make sure their gift is truly a perfect sentiment for their special day.

THE OFFICIAL TO-DO LIST FOR THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

She’s one of the key people in your life, so it follows that she’s heavily involved in your wedding. Here’s how to make the most of the mother of the bride.

Traditionally the mother of the bride is the host of your wedding party – the recetion. It is her job to make sure that everything goes according to plan. Check out what other jobs are ideal to assign to your lovely mum…

Mother of the bride to-do list

1. Announcing the engagement to the press, locally and nationally
2. Working with the bride and groom to draw up the guest list
3. Ordering the stationery and chasing it up
4. Sending out the invites and keeping an eye on acceptances and regrets
5. Supplying the wedding gift details to anyone who asks for them
6. Helping to organise the seating plan
7. Help you to choose your dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses
8. Planning the flowers for the ceremony and reception
9. Ordering the wedfding cake
10. Arranging table decorations
11. Making sure all of the guests have got somewhere to stay that night
12. Help you to get dressed and ready on the morning of the wedding
13. Give the order of service sheets to the ushers
14. Organising the buttonholes for key members of the wedding party, including the ushers, best man, bridegroom, and the two dads
15. Look after the gifts during and after the wedding. This includes finding a safe place to store them during the day
16. Collect the photo proofs from the photographer while you are on honeymoon
17. Organise the photo list – send out the right ones to the right people. You may want her to chase up your photos while you are away on your honeymoon, too. It’s great if the contact sheets are already waiting for you to look through when you get back home.  

Remember…DO Look after her – she is going to be working hard for you behind the scenes

• DO Give her a bouquet at the reception, during the speeches
• DO Encourage her to wear a complementary outfit to the colour scheme
• DO Invite her to be involved with choosing your dress. It’s the most special bit for her
• DO Encourage her to meet up with your fiancé’s mum regularly so that they know each other before the day (and don’t wear clashing outfits)
• DON’T forget to thank her
• DON’T exclude her from anything
• DON’T forget her on the day – she’ll be longing to be useful
• DON’T leave her to do everything. By tradition, she would be the last to leave the reception, but don’t ask her to stay until the last drink is sunk
• DON’T forget to book her in with the hairdresser and nail technician in the run-up to your big day
• DON’T let her interfere. It’s your day really…

Traditions

15 wedding traditions you can forget

Here are 15 wedding traditions you could afford to forget when planning your wedding ceremony.

Of course, if you do chose to include any of these traditions in your wedding, do it because you’ve decided too, not because that’s just what happens.

Bridal party

Your marriage certificate requires two witnesses, but they don’t need to be in dresses worth hundreds of dollars and wearing a rented suit that doesn’t fit. It’s totally acceptable to not have a bridal party today. The tradition grew out of superstitions that believed that evil spirits would try and attack the bride, so bridesmaids would be dressed like her to try and trick the evil spirits.

At my wedding we both had about 5 close friends there and in the end I would have been better off not burdening them with the cost of a suit and what not.

For the girls, still invite your best friends to come with you on the journey, and they’ll probably still buy an expensive dress, but don’t make them buy the same dress as four other girls.

The bouquet toss

The intention behind the bouquet toss was to distract guests from tearing a shred of the brides dress as the couple left the reception, because it was good luck to have a piece of her dress. These days it serves to embarrass single girls.

The wedding dress

White, red, long, short, above the knee, Vera Wang, Coco Chanel, or not. Traditionally wedding dresses were seen to be the best dresses of that time, but ever since Queen Victoria got married everyone’s been wearing long white dresses.

Wear the most beautiful dress you can find, and don’t worry about the colour.

Your father giving you away

I’ve covered this in another blog post (Post: Giving the bride away), but there is no reason your father, or your mother, or any other person has to give you away. The tradition is rooted in women being possessions that were to be given to another man. You can make the tradition mean something else, but don’t just do it because it’s the ‘done thing’,

Parents giving their approval

Who gives this woman to be married to this man? No-one does, she made the decision on her own.

Not seeing each other before the wedding

You’ll be no less unlucky if you see your bride or bridegroom on the wedding day before the ceremony. But it might be nice to build the suspense. But don’t do it for luck.

Inviting every man and his dog you’ve ever met to the wedding

I don’t pay $120 for me to eat dinner, you shouldn’t have to. Any married couple will understand if they aren’t invited, they’ve paid the bills before. So don’t feel the pressure to invite every single person you and your parents ever met.

First dance

Do you dance? Is the art of dancing a big part of your relationship? If not, why is your first dance together as a couple an important milestone?

Garter toss

As sexy as it is for the groom to go up his bride’s dress and pull the garter off, I felt so awkward receiving my dad’s new wife’s garter on his wedding night. What are you supposed to do with that thing?

The wedding cake

Two desserts does sound like a great idea I suppose. But why get a cake if you don’t like cake?

The groom waiting at the end of the aisle

There is no reason that the bride can’t get ready early and arrive at the ceremony 30 minutes early like the groom and welcome everyone as well. Why does the bride arrive late and get all the attention anyhow?

Having an aisle

Why is there even an aisle if we’re not in a church or a supermarket?

Wedding rings

I wear a wedding ring as a symbol of my relationship with Britt and so every other girl on the planet knows that I’m taken, I like to show off. But you don’t have to exchange rings, in fact one friend where’s his ‘ring’ on a necklace, why not just have a necklace?

The veil

Brides look beautiful in a veil but they’re no longer warding out evil demons. So maybe there’s a different fashion accessory that you could wear on your wedding day?

Being married in a church

More weddings happen outside of churches today than ever happen inside churches. Embrace the creative opportunities by staging your ceremony anywhere in the world. Imagine being married on a rooftop, a mountaintop, on a boat, or in a tree. You can choose!

Mother of the Groom

Responsibilities of the Mother of the Groom

The mother of the groom is often at a loss as to exactly what role she plays in the marriage of her son. This is even more true when she has not participated previously in a wedding for a daughter or other sibling. The following rules of etiquette are shared to increase the joy and fulfil the traditional responsibilities of the mother of the groom.

Her responsibilities include:
The first rule of etiquette to be followed upon receiving news of the impending nuptials is to initiate contact between the families. Introducing herself and her husband to the bride's parents is her first responsibility. This may be as simple as making a call to the bride's mother and telling her how happy she is about the engagement or an informal invitation to dinner at their home. If preferred, dinner at a nice restaurant is always in order. This may be with or without the couple in attendance.

If the parents live far away, a friendly letter is appropriate. A snapshot of the family and maybe even one of her son as a small child is always welcomed by the bride's mother and is a kind gesture.
The importance of providing an accurate and timely guest list can neither be over emphasized, nor the importance of sticking to the guidelines given her as to the number of guests she many invite. Remember to include zip codes.
It is the bride's mother who will first select a dress for her daughters wedding. A gown of complimentary color and similar styling is then chosen by the mother of the groom. She must wear long if the bride's mother wears long or short if she wears short. The color should not match the bridesmaids, nor the brides' mother, but compliment both.
Reservations for out-of-town guests, invited by the groom's family, are the responsibility of the mother of the groom. It will be much more convenient if a block of rooms are reserved at a nearby hotel, which is near her home.

It is the responsibility of the groom's parents to host the rehearsal dinner. This can be as simple as a salad potluck with paper plates in the backyard or as elaborate as an exotic dinner with live entertainment in the finest restaurant. Everyone who takes a part in the ceremony is invited to the dinner. It is proper etiquette to invite the spouse or significant other of those participating, and the parents of children in the wedding. 

Scheduled family photographs, prior to the wedding, will dictate the groom's parents time of arrival. If photos are not scheduled to be taken before the ceremony, the arrival should be no less than one hour before the appointed time 

As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind. However, if the parents are divorced, the father of the groom will have been seated previously, two pews behind the mother.
The role as mother of the groom, in the ceremony, may include lighting the family candle on the altar, along with the mother of the bride. Family candles are lit after the candle lighters have left the altar area, and prior to the entrance of the wedding party.

The first official duty of the mother of the groom, during the reception is to stand in the receiving line greeting guests and introducing her friends and family to the bride and her family. Traditionally she stands between the bride and her mother. If the fathers of the couple choose to stand in the line, she will stand between them.

Wedding Etiquette Advice

Second Wedding Etiquette

Not that long ago, popular thought dictated that second weddings should not be elaborate, formal or extravagant; rather, one should aim for smaller, quieter and more intimate. Today, however, more than 30 percent of today’s weddings are encore weddings and decidedly more commonplace. The focus is on celebrating two people who have found each other, discovering love again and embarking on a new beginning. In truth, celebrations can be as elaborate or as intimate as we desire, without fearing social stigma.

Ceremonies and Vows

Civil ceremonies tend to be the most popular with encore brides, but a religious ceremony is entirely appropriate. If you choose a religious ceremony, meet with your officiant, clergy member, etc. about any “hoops” through which you might need need to jump.

There are endless possibilities for making your second wedding even more special. Writing personalized vows is very popular for encore couples, and entire books are devoted to the subject. Including your children in the ceremony is a wonderful way to symbolize the joining of your two families and to help them feel as though they are an essential part of your celebration. They can escort you down the aisle, read a poem or scripture, serve as attendants or as a part of my favorite ritual: the lighting of a unity candle.

Who will walk you down that aisle? Happily for us, these days it can be anyone: your mother, child, two children or best friend—or you can choose not to have anyone do so. In fact, traditional Jewish processions include both sets of grandparents and parents. The parents stand with the bridal party under the chuppah (wedding canopy) during the ceremony. You can create your own tradition, with all of your children walking beside you and your groom and standing with you at the altar. You’re bound only by your imagination.

Mother-in-Laws

For men only! Don’t be afraid of your mother-in-law!

Image: © Monkey Business / Fotolia

The mother-in-law is the mother of your partner. This literally means that your half is a half of a mother-in-law.

A long time ago, Balzac said that if you want to find out what your wife would be after 20 years, you need to look at her mother. But don’t be afraid – times change.

Nowadays, the mother-in-law earns almost as much money as the father-in-law, she commands, she invests and she has her own finances. She loves her children, her car and you, only if you don’t remind her of her own husband.

If you want to win her, you have to earn a lot, to like what she likes and not to criticize her clothing, even when you are convinced that they are your wife’s. If the mother-in-law is the “head of the family”, we advice you not to pretend you are Napoleon. You will get over your Waterloo right when you try arguing with her, even if the subject is the yesterday’s soccer game. She might not have watched it, but she has an opinion! You should respect that.

If you have happened upon a mother-in-law who is a housewife, you should take off your shoes the moment you enter the door. You should buy her a cleaning system “Rainbow” and you should not touch the remote control when your hands are dirty. Don’t leave any hair on the soap, clean the table and don’t leave your clothes on the floor. Invite friends at home only when you know that you have enough time to clean the mess after they leave and of course to get sober. Oh, and don’t forget to put the toilet seat back in place!

If your destiny has served you with “miss perfection”, you better be careful. You won’t ever be good enough for her daughter. There will be always someone else who is better than you, smarter, richer, more careful and more concerned about you. Put up with it! Arguing with her is pointless: she talks, you don’t make a sound and then you don’t make a sound – she talks. You should better remain silent. It is a big mistake to try proving to her that you are the right person. Whatever you do, she will be convinced that you will never become good enough.

The mother-in-law who is intellectual is something else. She thinks of you as her son, she admires you and she supports you, she even takes your side when you are arguing. You could go to the movies with her and even on a vacation. And all this – until her daughter starts complaining from you. Then she turns into a tiger. For such situations people (probably men) have their sleeping bags and beds prepared. You should better leave and visit a friend for a while. This will make her think that you are not the one who has made a mistake and that you are not guilty. This happens with no words, with a sad look. At least until you turn round the corner.

The dream mother-in-law is friendly and always smiling as in a tooth paste advertisement. She shines like a summer sun and she always talks good things about you in front of her friends. She is always delicate, she never interrupts you and she knows her rights and obligations. She always helps without asking you to return the favor. She is always at the right place in the right time. She is generous and helpful.

In case you have run across such a lovely person…you are probably dreaming! Hello, hello…wake up! Stop sleeping; get up, because you have millions of things to do! Don’t forget to throw the garbage on your way out…

Advice for the men...

.Will You Marry Me??? 20 Ways to Propose

by Lataysha Jackson

Gentlemen!

Have you found the love of your life?  And are you ready to be with her for rest of your life?  Are you ready to propose?; you're most likely sitting there and saying “OMG how should I propose to her?” Marriage proposals are very important to woman, it is the one moment of our lives that we remember and cherish forever; which is why that very day must be special for us. From the very day we were born; our marriage proposal and wedding was all we could think about, you wouldn’t want to destroy our dream day would you?  The answer this should be no!

You would think “will you marry me” is the most important part of marriage proposals! Well how you propose, and where you propose, and her answer of course is at the top of importance.

The other day my cousin had asked me for some ideas on how he should propose to his girlfriend; I was so honoured and right away I shouted out about a “million” ideas. He knew I was interning at WPIC and he told me because I had so many ideas I should blog it, so here I am!

I picked my top 20 best marriage proposal ideas; some of which are my own ideas and some are researched ideas. Sit back and take note, because these ideas will have you blown away! There were so many that it was hard for me to just choose 20.

20 Marriage Proposal Ideas:

1. Hockey Lovers –  If you and your companion, or if your companion plays or loves to watch hockey; take them to a arena, play a game of hockey or just play around on the ice. At the perfect moment, position the engagement ring on top of the ice puck, and slide the puck over towards her. Once she has received the ring, say a speech and ask “will you marry me”.

Photo: VisionsofRomanceBlog

2.Bring It Back Old School-  this will most definitely have the “Aww affect”.  Take one of her favourite childhood games and propose to her through the game, example writing “will you marry me” in chalk on the pavement, or having a specially made Frisbee and have “will you marry me” on it.

3. Roses are a girl's best friend- If you wish to keep it simple, but yet romantic, when she is not home put your plan into action. Have rose petals leading from the front door to the kitchen (have a candlelight dinner table set up with roses and roses petals all around). Or have them leading the way to the bedroom. In the room light candles, have roses all over the entire room, with music playing in the background. In the middle of the room on the floor, create a big heart with rose petals and in the middle have the ring; get down on one knee and be ready to propose as soon as she walks in.

4. Scrapbook It- If you have collectable visuals from when you first met till now. Take 1 picture that highlights the best moment of the year you were together, adding up to the total of year’s you have been together. Under each picture write a caption, a quote, or a poem.

Example: If you were together for 5 years, have 5 photos and put it in the scrapbook, and the 6^th picture could be a picture of the wedding ring, or you could have the ring attached. This is a very good way to express your love and get creative.                      

 Photos: YourEngagement101, YouWannaTalkJive

5. Photo booth Love- Take a picture at a mall photo booth by yourself, and make 4 different wonderful displayed signs of “will you marry me?”  You will have four snap shots printed. For each picture hold the sign up and bring your personality through the picture, example: for the pose with the "me?" sign, you could have the sign in one hand and with the other hand point your finger at yourself with a huge grin. Make her see why she fell in love with you.

6. Icey Love-  Freeze the ring in a ice cube, and drop it in her glass of wine, champagne, or beverage. When she notices the ring in her glass, get down on one knee and propose.

Photo: MyLuckyFortune

7. Fortunate Love- Ask a baker, or manufacture that makes specialized fortune cookies. Have them create a fortune cookie of its original flavour or her favourite flavours; chocolate, strawberry or whatever it may be. Then create a personal message to be put inside. Give her the fortune cookie over dessert or a romantic evening you may have planned.

8. Traditional Approach- Ask her father or mother for their daughter's hand in marriage. At the next family gathering and at the perfect time, make a toast and propose to her. Having family around will make it special, and then after the proposal you both get to celebrate with the family.

9. Scavenger Hunt- Is the most used and popular way of making a marriage proposal. You could set up the hunt at home, her house, your house, her work, a place you shared a special moment at, or where you first met. You could plan the scavenger hunt yourself, or have family and friends in on it; the more the merrier. Take note, you must leave clues all around like notes, pictures, gifts, or you could even guide her through romantic text messages. At the end of the hunt, await her arrival with a surprise and on your knee ready to purpose.   

10. Get The Children Invovled- If you have children, have your kids make a picture of; a bride and groom, or a sign saying “ Mommy will you marry Daddy?”. Once they show her the picture, come in and surprise her with flowers and the ring. You can make it funny by saying “Hon, you can't say no to these adorable faces”.

Photo: 1HappyCorner

11. Game It- Crossword Puzzle, or Puzzle

Crossword Puzzle: Create a personalized puzzle with all phrases and answers in relation to your relationship with one another, and also include "will you marry me." There are various websites that allow you to make crosswords. Be prepared to do the crossword with her. Helpful website: http://www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/

Puzzle: Go to a board game store or to a place that creates and packages puzzles. The puzzle can be a picture of you and her with the message saying her name and “will you marry me”, the engagement ring, you on one knee with the ring, or of you and her in the background. Once the puzzle is completed and she is in utter shock, proceed with the proposal. It would be very cute to do the puzzle with her, so it encourages her to actually finish it.

12. Bright Lights- Hire a company that does fireworks, and plan a firework show to be put on in the night... plan it so it looks like it has nothing to do with you. Pick the perfect location and bring her there. Once the show begins, proceed with your proposal.

13. Roses- During  a romantic evening, picnic, or date, give her 3 roses one by one. For each rose tell her that; one represents the past, one represents the present, and for the last one (you could have the engagement ring attached or have a note saying “will you marry me” on it) then tell her this one represents the future.

14. High off Your Love- Hire a skywriter and have signage, or ask them to spell the words for everyone to see in the sky above, the perfect time to do this would be during the day, maybe even after a romantic picnic, or a walk on the beach.

15. Web Page- This has become really popular especially with the rapid growth and change with technology. Create a personal web page with her name, the proposal, a picture of the ring, or pictures of you and her together. Plan a day and tell her you would like to look at vacation prices. Sit her down and surf the web, then tell her to go to this link. Once she opens the link surprise her with a proposal.Photo: MyWeddingDayBliss

16. Romantic Beachside- Go for a walk along the beach around sunrise, sunset, or any time of the day. You could either propose to her with words, or even draw a heart, her name and yours, and “will you marry me” engraved in the sand.

17. Music of Love- Burn a CD of all her favourite songs, love songs, or songs that the two of you share memories to. You don’t want the CD to be too long, so have 10 tracks or less. For the last track record an audio expressing your feelings, and how much you love her, and go into a proposal. You could sing, or talk. This will be a great way to capture the moment in a memory

18. Book Worm- If she loves to read and reads on a daily basis, take a book that she is currently reading, and replace the current book mark with a specially made proposal book mark. You could get creative and maybe act out a scene from the book, or simply go into your proposal with “will you marry me”.

Photo: The Heart Bandits

19. Sport it Up-  Take her to a sporting game, and sit in distance to the score board or a stadium TV. During half time or when her team scores. Have “will you marry me” and her name displayed through the stadium TV’s or score board. Tell family and friends ahead of time to watch it on TV. NOTE: DO NOT DO THIS If she is shy, or very private. 

20. Swap Out Keyboards- buy an old computer keyboard and switch it with her original keyboard, replace the keys on it and spell out your message. This will totally catch her off guard, and be unexpected.