In response to one of the most stressful events in life, The Professor's House has opened up a new advice and relation section to combat the pre-wedding woes. For all about to be wives, husbands, in-laws, friends, and family, the new Wedding Information (http://www.professorshouse.com/family/relationships/relationships-weddings.aspx) section is a relief and a welcome resource for those in the throes of marital vows.

To help engaged couples and their family and friends deal with the long list of potential stressful issues that are likely to erupt, the website known for its commitment to life enhancement has launched their new section with stress reduction as its key focus. All under one quaint roof, engaged couples and their family members and friends can seek out advice and get down to earth useable information no matter what type of wedding information they are seeking.

"How awesome to have so much advice in one place. Every time I think I have all my ducks in their row," exclaims Georgia Houston of Hampton, "I find new questions and concerns, usually at three in the morning. Having an abundance of information in one place makes it easier to find out how others have handled the stress and even had fun at their own wedding!"

The details of an upcoming wedding are exhausting. There are churches or places of worship or outdoor locations to secure for the day. You need to find someone to marry you. People need wedding dresses, mother of bride dresses and bridesmaid dresses. There is a honeymoon to plan. There are details involving food, reception, drinks or the lack thereof, and of course, all the special festivities that go along with creating a very special occasion for a very special day. Nobody makes it through this time without a little help. And the more help that can be piled on, the better. That's why resources such as The Professor's House Wedding Information Section is so vital to reducing stress and making the big day all about the wedded couple instead of failed details. Sometimes, the only thing a future bride really needs is to laugh at the understanding that everyone has a crazy wedding story, and hers will seem just as funny some day.

Thankfully, resources such as this are out there, making a real dent in the stress of wedded bliss. By simply utilizing one solid resource, future brides, grooms and their friends and family can significantly reduce the expected stress levels and make the process of getting married much more enjoyable for everyone.

Not quite sure this is what we need...

Country music cable channel CMT is getting hitched to "My Big Redneck Wedding."

The reality series, to be hosted by thrice-married actor Tom Arnold, will premiere at 9:30 p.m. on January 11. The network ordered eight episodes.

Each episode will feature a different wedding, following the "most down-home country couples" as they take their trip down the aisle. The series will spotlight each wedding's "rustic eccentricities," whether it is a four-legged best man, a romantic beer-can canopy, a celebratory shotgun salute or a reception filled with mattress surfing and mud wrestling.

Press release at http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2064244420071220

According to the Conde Nast Bridal Group, December is the most popular time for marriage proposals (and, we're guessing, acceptances).

Our latest featured bouquet is perfect for the Christmas season!  This hand-tied bouquet featured twenty deep red and bicolor (Latin Lady) roses, seven white mini calla-lilies, red spray roses, red hypericum berries and cedar and salal greenery.  The stems were wrapped with white satin ribbon, and finished with a row of pearls.  Approximate price $200-$225.

Being a very agricultural state, farm and barn weddings are popular in our semi-rural area.  Lancaster Farming recently published an article titled Ceremony in a Field, Reception in a Barn, where they provide some tips for a farm wedding:

There are many considerations to think about when you consider having an on-farm wedding, and Good suggested a few, such as what are the fields going to look like in the background, will the pond get muddy if it rains and how will road traffic affect the wedding? “Even the animals,” said Good, are considerations, such as dogs barking or cats strolling across the tables?”

...

For couples considering a farm wedding, “every little detail that you do makes a difference,” advised Good. “You don’t have to go overboard — just urns with greenery in it or little touches — people notice that.”

One creative feature was the old chicken feeder that became a holder for guests’ table place cards. The feeder was filled with soil and grass, then held the “flowers” (made of a painted stick and with a paper daisy at the top) with the guests’ names and table numbers.

Lancaster is on the other side of the state from us, but here in western Pennsylvania there are a number of sites available for barn weddings.  Two close by are Betsy's Barn in Portersville, PA and Armstrong Farms Bed & Breakfast in Saxonburg, PA.  We've done a number of weddings at both, and the families at each farm are easy to work with and very accommodating, and the farms are beautiful.  Betsy's Barn was one of our featured locations last year--you can see their page at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/FeaturedLocationBetsysBarnPortersvillePA.aspx.

It's 2007, and by most accounts, a fairly modern time.  Women have achieved a greater deal of equality in American society than at any time before, running some of the largest corporations, and comprise a large percentage of the overall workforce.  Women are far more independent than previous generations and on average marry much later.  Many things have changed.  One tradition still lingering is whether or not a man should propose to his girlfriend without asking for her father's blessings first.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article today about asking your girlfriend's father for her hand in marriage.  There seem to be two strong opinions about this--it's either a charming bit of etiquette, or it's insulting.

One wedding expert quoted in the article offered this assessment:

"I do not think asking permission is 'sweet.' I don't find it adorable," said Jaclyn Geller, author of "Here Comes the Bride: Women, Weddings, and the Marriage Mystique," a feminist critique of the institution of marriage and who views such practices as yet another celebration of patriarchy.

Another expert quoted in the article has this differing opinion:

"Asking the father first has changed its meaning," says Marilyn Olivera, senior editor, at TheWeddingChannel.com. "It's now a gesture of respect and good intentions, not about having to get permission."

The local families interviewed also differed on their feelings about being asked, with opinions ranging from joy to dissuading the prospective son-in-law from asking.  It's an interesting read, and probably one which will trigger some emotions one way or another.

This may be one of the most perfectly themed autumn bouquets we've ever made--perfect for an October or November wedding!  We've had an incredible autumn in our area, and the beautifully colored leaves were still on the trees on the day of this wedding.  Our bride's hand-tied bouquet featured mango mini-calla lilies, jade green roses, green celosia, green hypericum, orange spray roses, rust and bronze mums and seeded eucalyptis.  The stems were wrapped with chapmagne ivory satin ribbon, and finished with a classic "ballerina braid" overlay of mocha brown chiffon and faux pearls.  Approximate price $175-$190.