Is a Fairy-tale Wedding Worth the Expense?

 

With the average UK wedding costing almost £25,000 is a fairy-tale wedding really worth the cost?

No – Susan
Couples today spend tens of thousands on their wedding day and I think it’s a colossal waste of money. I’m not against marriage but I am against the self-indulgent trend that’s emerged in recent years where normal couples try to recreate lavish celebrity weddings from the pages of a magazine.

Of course your wedding day is important but it is just one day! There’s absolutely no point getting into debt for the sake of having one glamourous party. With so many young couples struggling to buy their first home, I would have thought that the money would be better spent on property or other investments. From experience, no matter how much money you spend on your wedding, there will be elements that you’re disappointed with.

It’s also worth remembering that many marriages don’t last. In fact, I know people who are still paying off credit card bills from the wedding long after the marriage has broken down!

For any couple planning a wedding, my advice would be to set a small budget and stick to it. There’s no need to have the most expensive version of everything – you will still have a wonderful day even if you spend less. You can get married in the local registry office rather than a swish hotel and your marriage will be just as valid. Save the cash for things that will last like your home!

Yes– Katy
All my life I’ve dreamed of having a big white wedding and when I get married, I’m really going to push the boat out to ensure I have the best day of my life. You only get married once – or at least, I believe I will only get married once; so why not spend a lot of money making the day perfect?

Your wedding day isn’t a time to cut corners – if you choose things that are cheap but not really what you want, you’ll always be disappointed. Far better, to get the best of everything and make it a really magical day. I appreciate that people spend a lot on what is just one day in their lives but even after the day is over you’ll still have your memories and photographs to look back on. Do you really want to be looking at photos in ten or twenty years’ time and think ‘I wish I’d bought the dress I really wanted’?

I want my wedding to be really special and am looking forward to having all of my friends and relatives there to share the day. I want to impress them so that they will have a fabulous time and remember the day forever. I don’t want people complaining about the food or thinking that the venue isn’t very special so I’m happy to spend the money to make sure everything is exactly right. I probably will use my credit card for some big purchases but so what? I’ll remember this day long after the credit card bills have all been paid and I think all couples should be free to spend as much as they wish to get their own fairy-tale wedding too.

 

Categories: card bills, Couples, credit card, married, money, spend, wedding, wedding day

Why Married Sex is Better Than Single Sex

If you are thinking about getting married, you’re probably worried that your sex life is going to take a nose dive. We’ve all heard stories about married couples that stop having sex as soon as they take that trip down the aisle, and we worry that our own sex lives will go the same way. Worry no more – more and more studies are now proving that married sex is even better than single sex. There’s lots of amazing intimacy that can be had between a husband and wife. We’ve taken a look at the reasons why.

 

Morning sex is one of these reasons. Sharing a bed with the same person every night means you get to wake up with them every morning, too, and this can lead to a bit of special time first thing in the day. You may have to set your alarm for half an hour earlier but trust us, it will be worth it.

 

When you’re married, you can also be sure that your partner is attracted to you. No more worrying about whether you should make the move and when you should make the move. This confidence will remove your inhibitions and lead to some very sexy sex.

 

Whilst it’s nice to look good for your partner, the nice thing about being married is that you don’t have to look perfect all the time, the way that you would expect if you were just dating. Your husband will have seen you at your absolute worst – first thing in the morning, after a shower where you forgot to take your eye makeup off first – and if they still love you and fancy you then you really don[t have to worry about having the perfect hairstyle or the perfect matching lingerie.

Categories: married, married sex, Morning, nbsp, perfect, Sex, single, single sex, worry

Is Marriage the Key to Living a Happy and Healthy Life?

There’s a somewhat selfish reason why family wellness is so important; married people live longer and are healthier than singles. Research shows that being married is good for your wellbeing, especially if you’re a man, as this makes you less likely to die early or die from heart disease or stroke. But do you get the same wellness benefits if you are your partner are yet to tie the knot? And what about you happy singletons? We asked the experts to weigh in on how long-term love, or lack thereof, affects your health.

 

1. You behave more safely: According to Christopher Fagundes, PhD, psychologist and researcher at The Ohio State University, when you get married you are less likely to take major health risks or abuse substances than if you’re single or just move in together.

 

2. You are more socially connected: Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, S. Robert Davis Chair of Medicine at The Ohio State University, notes, ‘If you’re married, ideally that’s your closest relationship. That means there’s a partner and close source of support readily available.’ Psychiatrist Sudeepta Varma, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Centre, adds that people who are alone and unhappy, on the other hand, may become socially isolated, which can often cause depression and the neglecting of your health.

 

3. You have healthier habits: ‘Your spouse is a large force of influence in your own behaviour,’ says UCLA psychologist Theodore Robles, PhD. ‘You have someone to remind you that you shouldn’t eat that; that you should have one less drink. That means your spouse can help you maintain healthy habits.’ Research also shows that you’re more likely to follow your doctor’s advice if you are in a happy, martial relationship.

 

But what about living with your significant other? Fagundes details, ‘The general consensus is that, yes, cohabiting has positive effects but not to the same degree as marriage.’ If you’re in a same-sex couple, you might want to take this research with a pinch of salt, as most of the studies in this area has focused on heterosexual couples. However, none of our experts could see why the benefits of having a partner shouldn’t extend to homosexual partnerships. Varma comments, ‘The love and support – and how this translates into us taking better care of ourselves when we have someone who is invested in our happiness – is immeasurable.’

 

Really, it doesn’t come down to ticking the boxes of a) man b) woman and c) rings; you have to have a good marriage to reap the benefits in your wellbeing. A study of heart bypass patients, for example, showed that being happily married enabled better survival over 15 years, but the reverse is also true; being in an unhappy marriage can be unhealthy. The chronic stress of dealing with a bad marriage on a daily basis can affect your immune system, particularly if you’re a woman. Kiecolt-Glaser, whose team videotaped couples disagreeing, explains, ‘Couples who were more hostile during disagreements showed steeper changes in stress hormones and healed wounds less quickly.’

 

While women have been found to been the more impacted by bad marriages, that’s not to say that blokes are off the hook – they’re just affected in a different way. Varma asserts, ‘We now know that depression, obesity, and hypertension can all result from women suffering in unhappy marriages, but I also see a lot of substance abuse and depression in my male patients in the same situation.’ And, of course, people can thrive on their own. ‘If someone is single, it may or may not point to a difficulty in establishing close relationships,’ Varma says. ‘For some, this is the case. For others, it’s simply that they have not found their life partner yet. The key would be to surround yourself with good people that care for you, and that you are willing to help.’

Categories: health nbsp, healthy habits, kiecolt glaser, Marriage, married, nbsp, ohio state, partner, Social Connection, state university, varma

Getting Married? How to Look Your Best on the Big Day

Every woman wants to look her very best on her wedding day, and that is why, as soon as a proposal has been uttered and a ring is on a finger, many women find that their first thought is of a new fitness regime and weight loss plan. Of course, losing weight and getting into shape at any time is a great idea for the sake of your wellness and wellbeing, but for the newly engaged woman it can be an integral part of the wedding planning process.

 

Brides are all the same, and spend a lot of time focusing on getting the best wedding and honeymoon body, through a programme of diet and fitness. Some see personal trainers, and notch up hundreds of pounds on personal fitness regimes, but, of course, many others do not have that kind of money to invest in the process. Fortunately, there are simple things that you can do to organise your new workout regime.

 

First of all, decide on a time of day that suits you best. If you are a morning person, that is the best time for you. If you find yourself with a little free time after work some days – utilise it. Choose a time of day that works best for you and then stick to it.

 

Next, decide what your goals are. Do you want to lose weight or are you simply looking to tone up? If you want to lose weight, cardio is your best bet. Keep things fresh, so don’t do any exercise that you really dislike. If you find that you enjoy running, go for a run, and if running is not your cup of tea then try a workout class such as a Zumba class or take tennis lessons. There are lots of ways to work out without going on a boring treadmill. If you are looking to tone up, look out for free online workouts.

Categories: fitness, Lose weight, married, nbsp, time, wedding, weight