Happy New Year! Wedding Show?

I hope you all will have a wonderful New Year! Many of you may have started 2009 with a new sparkle in your eyes and on your left marriage finger...congratulations!

This is the time of year you will either eagerly anticipate or absolutely loathe. Yes, you will have by now been overwhelmed by the amount of wedding shows available in your local area. You do not have to go to all of them and certainly do not drag your fiance to each of them (unless he really wants to go with you or refused to let go the financial purse strings).

Wedding shows can be a lot of fun and if you prepared, it can go smoothly. Remember to bring water with you and if attending a large venue, a comfortable pair of shoes. It also helps to bring someone with you as well: groom-to-be, mother, MILTB, bridal party, sisters, brothers, father, etc.

Many of the shows will want your information: address, phone number, email, etc. If you do not wish to give out your current email address, set up one exclusively for bridal show/wedding information with Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, or set up a secondary email with your ISP provider. You are not obliged to give out your phone number--you can give your email address or cell number instead. As you will be giving out primarily the same information, create labels giving your full name, full address, contact number and/or email address plus your wedding date and/or groom's full name.

The businesses you will find at these wedding shows want to see you, talk to you and get your business. Take business cards and brochures and be sure to note on them anything about their table/booth that caught your attention.

Whether you are at a large opulent event or small intimate affair, you are bound to find a business to help you make your wedding dreams come true. Have fun and enjoy the bridal moments!

Canadian Wedding Trends

I saw this article in Weddingbells--a Canadian bridal magazine. Some of the results were surprising...

Weddingbells’ annual Reader Survey reveals the most recent wedding-day facts and trends from those who know best—Canadian brides prepping to walk down the aisle.

Be it balmy, breezy or on the beach, summer is still the most popular time of year to tie the knot in Canada. And according to our second annual Weddingbells’ Reader Survey, you’re all breaking into a bit of a planning sweat while getting ready for your big day.

Over 1,500 of you, from Vancouver to St. John’s, took the time to respond to the survey, offering a peek at the major trends and wedding worries of Canadian brides.

Are you wary of a prenup, concerned about your age, or stressing about sex? Is the pressure to make choices—lilies or orchids, empire-waist or A-line dress, DJ or live band—causing you more worry than joy? If you can’t decide on a wedding budget, or where you want to honeymoon, take some comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

Who is She?
Average age is 29 among engaged women in Canada
71% already live with their fiancé/significant other
Average household income after marriage is $70,036

The Big Day
Average expected cost is $17,300
Average wedding size is 143 guests
20% have 200+ guests
56% of weddings occur between July and September: July (18%), August (20%), September (18%)
44% of engagements occur between December and February: December (25%), January (7%), February (12%)

A Year of Planning
The average reader is engaged and planning her wedding for more than 10 months
Decisions related to key purchases are confirmed several months prior to the wedding:
10-12 months Ceremony Location, Bridal Gown, Photographer
7-9 months Wedding Cake, Florist, Bridesmaid Dresses, Bridal Shoes, DJ
3-6 months Gift Registry, Groom’s Formalwear, Limo Service, Hair Salon, Honeymoon Location

Show Me the Money
Funding for wedding: bride/groom savings (47%), bride/groom loans (15%), family (34%)
Budget breakdown based on anticipated costs:
Reception venue = $6,015 (will pay up to $7,200)
Bridal gown = $975 (will pay up to $1,335)
Wedding bands = $1,450 (will pay up to $1,900)
Stationery = $300 (will pay up to $400)
Wedding cake = $340 (will pay up to $440)
Florist = $805 (will pay up to $1,000)
Guest favours = $330 (will pay up to $420)
Honeymoon = $3,735 (will pay up to $4,710)
46% of engaged women plan to move to a new residence within the next 12 months
Almost one quarter expect to buy a new vehicle within the next 12 months

The Honeymoon
The average honeymoon lasts 8.8 nights away from home
67% plan to spend their honeymoon outside of Canada
56% plan to stay at an all-inclusive resort

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…
32% find wedding planning to be more stressful than enjoyable
23% agree a prenuptial agreement is a good idea (34% between 18-24 year olds)
42% anticipate having disagreements with their in-laws
19% are having more disagreements with their fiancé since becoming engaged
37% say their sex life has improved since getting engaged
24% claim not to be completely over past relationships

Surprise, Surprise...NOT

In continuation of the last blog, as promised here is the 2 Strangers and a Wedding update. I believe this was a well-rehearsed publicity stunt--it worked, didn't it? What's your opinion?




Two winners of a Calgary matchmaking contest decide not to get married

Calgary Herald
Thursday, October 30, 2008
CREDIT: Leah Hennel/Calgary Herald


Jeff Weber and Kimberly McCorkell decide not to marry after seeing one another for the first time at the wedding ceremony for 'Two Strangers and a Wedding', contest held by Calgary radio station Energy 101.5 at Canada Olympic Park.


CALGARY - Two winners of a Calgary matchmaking contest which tested the "love is blind"theory decided not to get hitched at first sight Thursday morning.


KimberlyMcCorkell, a 34-year-old case worker, and Jeff Weber, a 24-year-old Universityof Calgary economics student were set to get married Thursday at 8 a.m. at Canada Olympic Park as part of Energy 101.5's Two Strangers and a Wedding Contest.


At the altar in front of 180 guests and media, both decided they need to wait and get to know each other better.


In recent weeks, McCorkell's ex-boyfriend Craig Nelson launched a public appeal to win her back. He was at the wedding but left after the announcement. McCorkell and Weber both said if Nelson weren't still in the picture they would have married each other Thursday morning.


© Calgary Herald 2008

What Happened to the Sanctity of Marriage?

I found this article and was stunned silent. How this is happening nowadays is beyond me. Surely this farce is being denounced. No amount of money or prizes can replace marrying for love. I can imagine the Suffergites, feminists and every vicar, minister and priest are having a field day about this situation. Read the article and give an opinion. As soon as I see the results of this radio promotion, I'll update the situation.





I Do Day: Monday Bride makes her big decision

Robin Summerfield
For The Calgary Herald


Thursday, October 30, 2008


The Canadian divorce rate hovers at about 40 per cent. It's important to keep that in mind when considering the following story.


This morning at 8, two strangers -- a 34-year-old bride and her 24-year-old groom -- are set to sign on the dotted line as part of a month-long promotion by a Calgary radio station.


They will be introduced at the altar and may or may not decide to get married.


And if that weren't odd enough, a former live-in boyfriend wants the bride back. The 40-year-old launched a website (iheartmondaybride.ca), put up a billboard declaring his love, and hopes she chooses him.


They all have cute nicknames: Monday's Bride, Monday's Groom, or Manday, and Forever Groom, the ex. (Their real identities have been a closely guarded secret.)


It seems the stuff of a bad romantic comedy but it's very real for the three people in the triangle.
"In some ways it will be a certain way of getting closure on the issue," the ex says of this morning's wedding, which he will be attending. "I'm still kind of hoping she pulls me out of the crowd and marries me on the spot."


In late September, Energy 101.5 launched Two Strangers and a Wedding. Billed as a social experiment to test the love-is-blind theory, the station picked one bride from 52 applicants. A field of 35 grooms was whittled to five. Everyone went through extensive background checks and tests.


On Monday, the bride picked her groom, a 24-year-old former professional athlete, but also admitted she is torn about her ex. They are still very close and he initially encouraged her to enter the contest, she says.


Yet, that night, the radio-matched pair got their marriage licence in a well-orchestrated "first date" at the registry office. Both wore blindfolds and their conversation was taped for the station.


"This is a very unique situation. It should be every girl's dream, but it's gruelling, it's agonizing. You don't want to hurt anybody and you don't want to get hurt yourself," says the bride, a case worker in Calgary.


"There's really no way to make everyone happy," says the groom. "I think it's important that we don't get caught up in the hype but look at the big picture. I honestly believe this may work."

After meeting all three people in this triangle in person (at different times), it's impossible not to root for them all. They're all sane, rational and nice people who just want to find love. And that's what we all want, I guess.


Yes, this arranged-marriage-plus-ex-boyfriend-plus-radio-contest triangle is a real-life soap opera -- and human nature makes it difficult to turn away. It's all silly fun, after all. But in all this hype, it's easy to forget these are real people with real feelings and all three have real lives to resume once hype dies down.


This morning, the veil of anonymity will be dropped, a decision will be made and whatever happens, three people's lives will be changed.


And then the rest of us, all the looky-loos, will have to find somebody else's drama to tune into.
Or better yet, we could all get our own lives.


rsummerfield@theherald.canwest.com
© The Calgary Herald 2008

Ben Mulroney to Marry?

I didn't realized this former Prime Minister of Canada's son was even dating, never mind getting married! Will wonders never cease?

Preparations are underway for today's wedding of TV personality Ben Mulroney to local fashion designer, Jessica Brownstein, at St Patrick's Basilica, a majestic church in the heart of Montreal. A reception to follow on this Saturday at the Sofitel Hotel.

The mixed Jewish and Catholic ceremony will be a small, private family affair.

Mulroney, 32, proposed to Brownstein, 29, a Montreal fashion designer and stylist, during lunch last December at a popular Montreal deli.

The couple had been together for about six months when he popped the question. They have known each other since their childhood in the affluent suburb of Westmount. Talk about shades of Ross and Rachel (from "Friends")!

Ben Mulroney is best known as the host of Canadian Idol and of CTV entertainment show etalk.

I tell ya, I did not see this one coming...did anyone else?