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Have weddings divorced me?

If you are reading this post and its the only one you’ve ever read by me then welcome to my blog. Its all weddings. All the time. If you are reading this post and you’ve been to Charmed City Weddings before, I apologize for taking such a long break between this post and my last.

(Photo courtesy of http://marriageguardian.com/Images/Divorce_and_Wedding_Rings.jpg.)

This blog began about two years ago as a school project and for the most part, I only wrote posts because I was being graded on them. But after graduating in May with my bachelors degree in Mass Communication, I was not sure if continuing was something I was going to be up for.

After about a three month gap, I have decided not to break up with blogging. A criticism I received from both my peers and professors revealed they did not believe my blog had personality. To change this, I am changing the direction of the blog.

Instead of the typical posts I did before, I will now be incorporating my own opinions and experiences about weddings (including my own).

Weddings have not divorced me. I plan on making this experience better and more enjoyable and lasting than ever.

If you have any ideas for a post, please click the contact page to the right.

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A bouquet for all seasons

Depending on the time of year the wedding will take place, it almost always seems appropriate to use flowers in season both as a way to save money and to add style to the big day. Every season has it’s own types of flowers it identifies with.

A bouquet of white Daffodils. Photo courtesy of Do-It-Yourself-Weddings.com

Spring flowers: Tulips, Orchids, Lilacs, Hyacinths, Iris and Daffodils.

Summer flowers: Calla Lillies, Gerberas, Snapdragons, Delphiniums, Irises and Columbines.

A bouquet of Sunflowers. Photo courtesy of Do-It-Yourself-Weddings.com

Fall flowers: Sunflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, Chryanthemum, Hydrangeas, Dahlias and Gladiolis.

Winter flowers: Amaryllis, Ivy, Holly, Anigozanthos, Nerines and Red and Yellow Dogwoods.

Creating a bouquet using flowers in season adds to the interest not only of the bouquet but the overall dynamics of the wedding. Flowers not in season typically clash with other decorations and confuse guests.

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Did you know an Azalea signifies a first love?

If you did, kudos to you for your incredible amount of knowledge. If not, you have come to the right place to learn more about deciding if a DIY project is right for you. More important than a knowledge of flower meanings is an entire check list of questions to ask florists or other crafty people.

Sometime before the wedding, the bride and groom make the crucial decision if they will hire a florist or buy and assemble their flowers for the wedding day themselves. Think about the following questions when deciding the answer to this question.

1. Do I have time to do this project?
2. Do I have the patience for this project?
3. Do I have the creativity to take this project on?
4. Who will help me when I get tired and irritated because the glue just will not stick?
5. Is there a budget for a florist?

Photo courtesy of Wilhide's.

While it may make sense to take a DIY approach to the wedding flowers from the start, a good florist will work with brides and grooms to come up with ideas and show them how to put together an arrangement. It may be a good idea to meet with a florist initially to brainstorm for ideas but complete the projects with family and friends.

If you do decide to arrange your own flowers for the big day, you might ask yourself where you can get your flowers. There are plenty of websites which guarantee beautiful flowers delivered just days before the wedding from a box. The surprising part comes when the box is opened and there are hundreds of wilted red roses inside.

Photo courtesy of Wilhide's.

The problem with these websites is that freshness, even though they say it is, cannot be guaranteed because the flowers were cut, packed and shipped, a process which can be quite lengthy. Couples should resolve to find local resources. Not only are they more often cheaper (because shipping costs are lower or non-existent) but you can see them before you buy them.

A great local place is Wilhide’s Unique Flowers and Gifts in Ellicott City, Md. The  flower shop offers premium quality flowers which are “professionally designed with latest styles,” according to the company’s website. Wilhides also provides flower alternatives like silk and dried flower bouquets.

Should brides and grooms get confused when talking about wedding floral arrangements, they should check out Wildhide’s glossary of wedding flower terms.

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How did you meet again? A bridal profile

Meet Kerry and Dan Hiett, both 22-years-old. They also happen to be married. The couple will soon celebrate their first anniversary together and they could not be happier.

Photo courtesy of Kerry Hiett.

First meeting in February 2004, the Hiett’s began to see each other as friends two years before even contemplating the idea of dating one another.

“He was very different from a lot of guys I knew at the time,” Hiett said. “He was polite, looked me in the eyes, and paid for dinner when we were just friends.”

Love came slowly for the couple even after they began to date in 2006. They made an agreement to wait to say they loved each other until the moment was right.

“We wanted to wait until we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together to say the ‘L’ word, “Hiett said. “After eight months, I knew he was the one.”

While a student at Towson University majoring in Deaf Studies and a wife, Hiett said she often gets asked why she decided to marry at such a young age.

“I just tell them there is no ‘right’ age to be married,” Hiett said. “Dan and I knew each other for a long time before we got engaged and we had also been through a lot emotionally,” Hiett said.

“Some people are not ready to be married at 22,” Hiett said. “Why should we let age stand in our way?”

Hiett proposed during a missions trip in the Dominican Republic.

“The moon was out and the waves were crashing against the rocks,” Hiett said. “Dan looked at me and signed ‘Will you marry me?’ and of course I freaked out.” Hiett said it was one of the most romantic nights of her life because her future husband had proposed to her and found a creative and unique way to ask her.

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Farewell to body fat

When ladies worry about their weight, it is not just on their arms. Women get it everywhere on their bodies. One of the toughest places on the human body to lose weight is the inner thigh.

The thigh muscle structure is powerful and one of the largest muscle masses in the the human body according to Jim Harrison, a fitness instructor at Towson University. But, what does this mean for you?

1. These muscles are capable of burning a lot of calories and therefore, a lot of fat.
2. If toned correctly, the thigh provides support and corrects balance problems.

The sticky problem with fat loss in humans is that there is no way (without surgery) that we can target fat loss, Harrison said. This means you have to loss fat all over the body in order to lose weight in the thigh area.

Photo courtesy of www.fitnessgurusam.com

Here are a few exercises to help tone the inner thigh while still helping the entire body:

1. The Squat: This exercise helps every part of the body. It engages muscles in every part of the leg. Just remember to point your toes forward and to go lower than parallel to the ground to target even more muscles in your abdomen.
2. The Lunge: Doing a lunge gets the muscles going but even more effective is the walking lunge, which engages nearly every muscle in the leg and thigh. Lunges help to improve balance because they promote the strengthening of stabilizer muscles. Development of these muscles increase calorie burn during workouts.
3. The sprint: While this may be an exhausting exercise, it does a lot more than just help to burn fat. It also helps the heart to strengthen itself. An increase in speed helps the muscles train differently so they learn to burn fat more effectively.

“While exercise it a part of a healthy lifestyle, you should consult a physician before beginning a new routine,” Harrison said.

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How did you meet again? A bridal profile

Meet Amy Feigelis and Mike Bittinger, two love birds in their mid-twenties planning nuptials just six weeks away. There love has grown modestly through the years, yet they know now more than ever is the perfect time to officially start their life together.

How did you meet?

Her story: “We worked together at two jobs but we never hung out.”

His story: “She was always working at the same time I was in the photo lab so we got to know each other but only a little bit.”

When did you begin to like each other?

Her story: “I asked him out to drinks a few times and he kept saying no so I stopped for a bit. Then I felt like asking him out one more time so I did and we hit it off.”

His story: “She was so persistant in asking me out. I usually hung out with the guys on Fridays and one day I just decided to go out with her instead.”

How was the proposal done?

Her story: “I expected it to happen during a trip to New York City because I knew he had the ring already. It was so cold and the entire city was under ice that day. On top of that Mike’s coat got torn by some old lady who thought he was stealing her purse so he did not do it then. On Christmas he put the ring inside of a box, inside of a box that was inside of a box. I was so happy.”

His story: “I had everything planned in New York City. I wanted to propose to her on a horse carriage ride through Central Park, but it was so cold they did not have the horses out for rides. On top of that we could not even walk in the park because there was ice everywhere. Amy thought she might fall. I scraped the whole idea after this old lady’s purse whipped in the wind and got caught on my jacket button. When she ripped her purse back it tore my jacket. She thought I was trying to mug her.

Describe your relationship journey.

Her story: “It has had some ups and downs but after eight years, we are really ready to commit our lives to each other. We know it will be hard but life is hard. Why do it alone when you have people around you that you love?”

His story: “There was a point in our relationship when we were broken up but we continued to live together and that brought us through that turmoil I think. We could have easily given up but we did not. That makes us stronger as a couple.”

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Tone the body with a few simple exercises

For many brides-to-be, when Mr. Right pops the question, they begin to look at their bodies with fear. Brides realize they could stand to lose a few pounds and tone their muscles to look great in their dress and in their wedding photos.

“Fitness is not just about getting ready for a wedding,” said Jim Harrison, a fitness instructor at Towson University. “Its about making sure your there with the person you love tomorrow.”

Harrison said the most important part of an exercise regime  is stretching out before. He said most exercise injuries happen when people do not stretch their muscles to loosen them.

Harrison said there are three basic exercises anyone can do to make their upper body look and feel better. Harrison said each exercise should be done in three sets of 10-12 repetititions.

“To get ready to tone the arms, chest and shoulders, get two dumbbells of any weight which is most comfortable.” Harrision said. “It between sets, do a one-minute set of jumping jacks or run in place.”

1. Push-ups: Place your arms on the floor and slowly stretch your body with your knees, you can also use your toes. Your knees and your hands should be supporting your whole body weight. Keep your back straight and use your hands in lowering yourself toward the floor. Slowly go back to the original position by pushing your body upward. Return to the original position and repeat. For beginners, do not lower your body too close to the floor, it will make it harder for you to push back.
2. Back and Shoulder tone: Stand straight with feet slightly apart. Hold your weights and slowly bend. Parallel your torso to the floor. Extend your arms, palms facing outwards, towards the floor. Lift your arms on your side, keep them straight and parallel to the floor. Return to the original position and repeat.
3. “Underarm Wing Eraser”: Stand straight with your feet wide apart. Raise your arms up, straight above your head. Hold your weights and do not bend your elbows. Lift the weights and bring them forward and down. Return to the original position and repeat.

As a general measure of wellness, brides should get enough sleep. Keeping in mind each person requires a different amount of sleep, Harrison said women should pay close attention to how their bodies are reacting to everyday stresses and adjust the amount of sleep to suit the stress.

“It is good to drink plenty of water everyday,” Harrison said. He said the task of drinking all of the required water is not so hard when brides think about what they eat throughout the day. “Fruits and veggies have a ton of water in them. Cucumbers are basically all water so if you eat those, your body is taking in water.”

“Everyone starting to work out should contact their doctor to find out what they should be doing to tone their body or lose weight,” Harrison said.

Campus Recreation Services in Burdick Hall offers a wide range of exercise and fitness courses which are free of charge to Towson University students, faculty and alumni.