From what I hear from past Best Men, the toast is the most nerve wracking and stressful thing ever. How long should it be? Should you include that crude but hilarious anecdote? If you do, will the bride kill you? Should it be funny? Or should it be sentimental? So. Many. Questions.
If you're having a hard time with yours, you might like this amazingly useful website, where you can generate a pre-written toast with just a few clicks. I had a go myself in the name of research and I think Gertrude and Bob will be very happy with what I ended up with. It may be lazy, but hey it works!
It may seem like a trivial concern, but for many couples, from the first awkward steps of a relationship to engagement, marriage and beyond, questions arise on how and when to change the all important Facebook status - a decision that didn't exist a cople of years ago - frequently leading to heated arguments and in one case almost to divorce and/or death.
Lauren Booth, sister of Cherie Blair, found this out the hard way when she changed her Facebook status from 'married' to 'single' in a fit of pique; only to have a blazing row with her husband who then stormed off and crashed his motorbike, presumably while still suffering the effects of 'red mist'. He's since come out of a coma and the couple have reunited, but it certainly brings home the significance of that one little mouse-click.
Have you chosen to share your relationship details with Facebook, or do you find it simpler just to assume that your friends know you're with that guy who keeps turning up on your arm? Let us know in comments, and read on for some tips...
It's pretty unusual these days to get married before you've reached the adult milestones of purchasing your first kettle or toaster, so in many ways the traditional 'gift list' is becoming obsolete. Nowadays, couples are far more likely to be seeking to reduce clutter than accumulate more knick-knacks, and at a time when money's tight for a lot of people it can seem a bit unfair to ask your guests to buy objects they may not really be able to afford for the sake of tradition.
That said, family members in particular may want to buy you a gift come hell, high water or recession, so what can you do if you want genuinely useful presents that won't end up clogging up the loft? There are some great suggestions here on gifts that help the planet, setting up honeymoon funds and even how to persuade your well-meaning guests that you really don't want presents...
The highlight of a Jewish wedding is the breaking of a glass by the groom, with the guests wishing the couple luck by shouting "Mozel Tov!" Rather than placing the glass in a cloth you can purchase this satin pouch with a glass wrapped inside a bubble bag then sewn into the pouch. After the glass is smashed the shards will remain safely inside to be kept as a memento. Priced $30 from Exclusively Weddings , and for an extra $8 you can have the names of the bride and groom and the date of the wedding embroidered on the bag.
Until 1884, in England, a woman was officially listed as one of her husband's possessions. How times have changed! H. Samuel have just become the first chain in the country to sell engagement rings exclusively for men. The ring available from the H. Samuel website, is called the "Tioro" - a chunky titanium band set with a subtle diamond. Although popular in parts of Scandinavia and Basque regions of Spain they have (until now) been are a rare sight in Britain.
The retailer believes the demand for a male engagement ring is partly down to equality with more women than ever proposing to their fellas, as well as being a clear symbol that the man is "off the market"! As H. Samuel's buying controller Natasha Gregory explains, "the men's engagement ring is a clear message to everyone that the man is going to be married and also works perfectly for civil partnerships". Interestingly she goes on to say "over 60% of our customers think it's a good idea for women to ask men to marry them." Really?! Maybe I'm just a bit old fashioned but I'm not sure I'd want to be the one asking. What's your verdict? Tell us in the poll below!
I'm a sucker for tradition - and this lovely garter charm, £6 from Princess Polly Tiaras, is the ideal way to represent your "something blue". It's made with a blue Swarovski crystal heart surrounded by sparkling aurora borealis crystals.
You may blame my vintage fashion obsession, but I absolutely adore formal gloves. Unfortunately there's not many occasions to wear them, but if there ever was one it's certainly on your wedding day. These formal satin long gloves from Charms Bridalwear are every bit the Hollywood starlet, and would set off any strapless or sleeveless gown to perfection.
Perfect for the coming cold months, they're a great accessory that's both practical and pretty. If, like I was, you're wondering about the etiquette during the ceremony, then check out Wedding Chaos' fantastic guide. It includes quite a few tips for flirting with them too (honest!). This pair costs just £17.99 from Charms online.
From what I hear from past Best Men, the toast is the most nerve wracking and stressful thing ever. How long should it be? Should you include that crude but hilarious anecdote? If you do, will the bride kill you? Should it be funny? Or should it be sentimental? So. Many. Questions.
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