| |
| |
|
Marriage & Wedding Information |
|
The Brides Greatest Ally
On Friday, 1st May 1835, Mr Charles Dickens, the creator of "David Copperfield" and "Please, sir, can I have some more?" was the happiest of mortals. He had proposed and had been accepted. By Saturday, 2nd May 1835, Mr Charles Dickens was wrestling with that knotty problem facing every Groom. Who was he to choose for his Best Man? The role was too important for most of the Tom, Dick and Harrys he knew. And, in any case, by now, he should be aiming a little bit higher. Searching carefully through the banks of his capacious memory, a name came up so suitable in every way that he was surprised not to have thought of it earlier. Pleased as Punch, he hurried to York Place to share the good news with his little Bride. "Your publisher, Mr Dickens?" she says unimpressed. "How can you even think of him as your Best Man? He's hardly a friend." "Perhaps to your turn of mind he may not be my friend, madam, but I have been entertained by him and his good lady. And, in short, he is my bread and butter." "I hope, Mr Dickens, when we are wed, you'll be able to think of other things beside your bread and butter." Oh, how those pert words were to haunt her in the next twenty years. "And I hope, madam, when we are wed, you'll appreciate intellectual greatness and not be for ever reading that romantic trash." Seeing Mr Dickens' furrowed brow, and an unpleasant cast to his mouth very reminiscent of his less humorous characters, Catherine besought herself to be a little more congenial. "What think you, Mr Dickens, of mama's cousin, three times removed, Frederick Monteroy?" "What? For my Best Man?" "He's ever so amusing and obliging," she wheedled. "My dear, Miss Hogarth," protests Mr Dickens, "I don't know the man. He is your friend entirely." Ah, Mr Dickens, the clever man that you are, you have placed your inky-finger on the very heart of the matter. That he is the Bride's friend is exactly what makes him so desirable as a Best Man. Young as she is, your Catherine has already heard the sad tales of how tenaciously a Best Man battles to detach his friend from the bosom of his intended. Go back as far as Sparta and Athens. Even there history will show the perils a Groom encounters on his road to matrimony, and the length to which his Best Man will go, to make him detour. No trick too dirty, especially as D Day approaches. Lolling on the sofas of the local Vino where so much of their time had been spent as college graduates, he will ply the sheepish fool with unlimited goblets of wine at best - and frisky young lasses at worst. "One last drink for the road!" is the cry every time the Groom makes at attempt to escape. And the next day, legs unset jelly, he might manage to stumble towards his bride more than an hour late. Then again he might not get there at all. But back to Mr Dickens. "No, Catherine," he says firmly, nay, obstinately, "I must have Mr Bentley beside me." "But, my dear," says the suddenly inspired Catherine, "do not you know that the Best Man must always be a single man?" "I declare I had not," admits Mr Dickens in some confusion. "La, Mr Dickens," says his lady, seeing the race all but won, "if you'd spent more time with the social pages instead of the plight of the poor, you'd know better." And so on Saturday, 2nd April, 1836, Mr Dickens plighted his troth at St Luke's Church, Chelsea. Beside him stood not Mr Bentley, the Publisher, but Mr Beard, the journo. Catherine had fought the good battle that every Bride must fight. And won. Too bad that Mr Dickens turned out not to be the catch she thought he was. But that's another story. Vlady is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant. She is the author of "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings" and "The Small Organisation Handbook". She is a member of the Queensland Association of Civil Marriage Celebrants, Australian Authors and Romance Writers of Australia. You can visit Vlady at her website http://www.vlady-celebrant.com
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Wedding Videography - When Getting it Right on the 1st Take Counts, Hire a Professional Getting married is one of the most stressful events anyone will ever endure. So many details and preparations go into the making of a successful wedding. Marriage Counseling Tips: 7 Ways to Handle Conflict in Marriage How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges with your spouse? Do you value being right over preserving the quality of your relationship? And how long do you stay angry after you've had a fight?How you answer these questions offers a clue into how secure your marriage is. Unfortunately, too many married couples let unbridled confrontations tear the fabric of their relationship. Faulty Expectations: 4 Essential Don'ts The more realistic you are as you prepare for marriage, the more likely you are to have a successful one. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to give serious consideration to your expectations of your fianc. Honeymoon Vacation Ideas can be Economical If you are looking for honeymoon vacation ideas that will be the most enjoyable without putting you into massive debt, consider some of these tips.The purpose of the honeymoon vacation is only minimally to live for a few days like extravagant royalty. Wedding Invitatation RSVP Cards When it comes to response/RSVP cards, the goal is to get a response. Whether selecting a card with a self-addressed, either by hand or computer printed labels, and pre-stamped envelope or an economic post card with your address on one side and the guest response on the other, do what works best for you. The Reality of Arranged Marriages Arranged marriages have been a topic of interest for centuries. Authors across the ages have explored this theme at length, and it still surfaces in literary works today. Finding the Perfect Bridesmaid Gift The bridesmaid gift is essential to the planning of a wedding. While many may believe that a wedding is all about the bride, it is still important to show appreciation to your bridesmaids. Beyond Her Grasp I am a woman, 42, who three years ago married a wonderful man who will be 48 on his next birthday. I love him very, very much. Flower Girl Flowers There are many options available to adorn your flower girl with flowers! Here are some creative ideas to consider for the flower girl in your wedding party.A popular idea is to have your flower girl carry a decorative basket with rose petals. The (American) Bride Wore Red Increasing numbers of American brides are thinking about doing the formerly unthinkable -- getting married in a bold red gown.Not that red is a stranger to marriage. Tips For A Lasting Marriage My parents gave me this advice about marriage. They have been married since the 1960s and are still happily married to each other. Choosing Your Groomsmen: No Matter What They Say, Nobody Must Be In the Wedding Party Your lovely fiance has chosen her 'maids, and now you're stuck with the task of finding just the right number of family and friends to pair them with. How do you decide who makes the cut? The Usual Suspects Remember: No matter what your family or friends say, there aren't people who "must" be in the wedding party. Wedding Dresses - Why They Are White and Other Wedding Lore Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. Todays Wedding Is Brought To You In Association With ... With the cost of today's weddings spiraling to astronomical levels, some couples are now looking for sponsorship to help them have the big day that they have always dreamed of. This new trend of "selling out" on your big day has recently hit America by storm. Twelve Ways to Make Your Spouse Dislike Sex It's really not difficult to ruin what could have been great sex. If that's your goal, following these twelve suggestions will ensure that, over time, your spouse will become very creative in finding ways to avoid having sex with you. A Summer Wedding THE sunshine had come out to ensure the wedding of footballer Benji and his wife-to-be Sabine had the perfect backdrop. For the month before the excitement had been growing amongst the players and supporters of St Cernin de l'Herm, a village in the south west of France, as the day came ever closer. To Register or Not to Register (for Wedding Gifts) I say always register for gifts! You see, people tend to spend more on wedding gifts than any other occasion! For example, when I got married, my husband's grandparents gave us $1000 and we never get gifts from them, not even for Christmas!Think about it, there are all sorts of things that you will need and want for your new home. (Or even your old home) Register for them all, everything from bath towels to good china and anything in between, even the non-traditional stuff, don't be scared. The Bigger the Carat the Better the Wedding? Ahh . . Florida Honeymoon Vacations Celebrate your marriage by planning a Florida honeymoon vacation with lots of pleasant surprises in store for you! This is because Florida is the host to plenty of popular honeymoon spots. Couples can enjoy one another's company with activities such as horseback riding on white sandy beaches, biking or walking along bicycle trails, quiet visits to the museums, visits to the civil war tort, strolling along the cool breeze to lighthouses, sight-seeing of beautiful tropical garden, cuddling together enjoying the sounds of the sea and yes, fun-filled amazing entertainment at Walt Disney World, Orlando. Enhancing Communication in Marriage In marriages, many arguments and hurt feelings can be traced back to communication problems. It's not unusual for spouses to stay in a continual state of frustration, feeling misunderstood and unappreciated.
|
| home | site map | contact us |
