Not feeling a cliche candle-lit dinner or a moonlit stroll on the beach? Here are some other ways you can celebrate your love …
I love the photograph a kiss idea!
8 Fun, Non-Cheesy Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Women, apparently, don’t want chocolates or flowers for Valentine’s Day.
According to Birkbeck University and Harley Street clinics in London, it’s a romantic meal for two and sex toys.
After hooking up 20 volunteer couples to special electroenchephalogical (EEG) headsets, scientists measured women’s brain wave patterns in response to gifts from their partners.
The results showed that gifts most likely to make women smile are:
Romantic meal for two 75%
Female sex toys 65%
Lingerie 60%
Red roses 30%
Chocolates 25%
This is what brain does when it smiles, apparently:
“Humans have a feel good factor which is activated by anything that promotes the survival of the species such as eating, drinking and sex. When receiving a gift, people are also able to think ahead and delay immediate gratification for a longer-term reward,” said independent psychologist Dr Beverly Steffert.
Of course, the commissioners the research, female sex toy brand Smile Makers, were more than pleased with the results.
“We love the fact that British women prefer gifts that demonstrate a sense of fun and imagination over traditional, clichéd presents like chocolates and roses,” said Peder Wikstroem at Smile Makers.
So, put away those bouquets and Milk Trays!
I was blown away when gorgeous Bride Tracey Griffiths mentioned me in her speech.
Such kind words.
It was my absolute pleasure to help put the finishing touches on Tracey and Hayden’s magical wedding day as their wedding day co-ordinator.
Thank you to Tracey for having me – and to Mother of the Bride Sue for booking me!! Of course my long time friend Kim for recommending me!!
Not to forget professional videographer Mario Geremia for the video. If you live in the Wairarapa region you can contact Mario to film your wedding and create a beautiful video story to capture your big day or any other special occasion at: [email protected]
It’s almost here, February 14th… whether you love it or think it’s mass consumer madness, it’s still fun. Here are a few cool ideas for one of the most romantic days of the year…
♥ An outdoor movie screening of The Princess Bride under the stars at Silo Park. Take bean bags and get cosy! There’s even a market where you can grab food and a bucket of popcorn!
♥ A sunset beach picnic… with a bonfire, toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate… and maybe a skinny dip!!
♥ A romantic educational under the Auckland Observatory Stardome stars, including a glass of bubbles, nibbles and adopting a star of your very own!
♥ Note, I have not mentioned movie night watching the Fifty Shades of Grey film. I don’t think watching a cheesy sex-fuelled movie with more sex packed into it than the last 10years worth of movies combined makes for an authentic romantic evening. Or does it?! It’s got to be better than the terribly written books, surely.
Kimberly Sanders ♥ Marriage Celebrant, Auckland ♥ Lucky in Love Wedding Planner
Get in touch
It transcends gender, race, religion, age… and as this cute video proves… it even transcends species!
I had the pleasure of marrying the lovely Wendy and Tamara one week ago today!
The sun was shining on this couple in Cornwall Park where they were married under the shade of a tree overlooking green paddocks (and a few sheep!). The backdrop suited their grounded and serene personalities beautifully.
These ladies made the journey to NZ to make their 10 year partnership ‘official’ and I’m sure they believe it was well worth it, combining their honeymoon into it.
With friends as witnesses, in person, and in spirit, the ceremony was full of laughter and love.
Happy first week anniversary Mrs Wendy & Tamara Matthews!!
Aroha mai, aroha atu!
Kimberly Sanders ♥ Marriage Celebrant, Auckland ♥ Lucky in Love Wedding Day Event Management
Get in touch
At last!!! My Darling and I finally booked our delayed tropical honeymoon!!! I am sooo excited!!! We actually had a cool honeymoon at a bach (beach house) on a private beach in NZ, but we always thought we would go somewhere tropical when winter got here, but of course, life got in the way and we’re only just doing something about it. A year late, is better than never!
So, here are my top romantic honeymoon picks… what are yours??
♥ Private Beach Bach, New Zealand
♥ Paradise Suite, Yasawa Group, Fiji
This is the description listed for our honeymoon resort…Situated facing the amazing waters of Paradise Cove, the 1 bedroom Beachfront Paradise Suite offers luxurious serenity, a private plunge pool, hanging day beds, total opulence.
♥ The Royal Hawaiian Pink Palace, Waikiki, Hawaii
♥ Overwater Bungalow, Bora Bora, Tahiti
♥ The Maldives
♥. Any Ice Hotel where you can see the Northern Lights
I’m thankful to say marriage is now a legal option in New Zealand for ‘same-sex’ couples (since 2013). I hate the way we even differentiate ‘gay’ couples with the ‘gay’ or ‘same-sex’ label. Do I go around calling myself part of a ‘heterosexual mixed-race’ couple? (My husband is a very handsome man, I’m European/American and My Darling is NZ/European/Maori). No.
Marriage is about love – not gender. Or anything else.
Very tragic to think that some countries still treat gay couples with discrimination which reminds me of how draconian our world still is. Hopeful though if we think back to the time where marriages between people of different colour and religion were also not accepted by the mainstream. But I guess, who wants to be mainstream!
This post comes in the week that I actually officiated my first ‘same-sex marriage’, having the privilege of marrying two very lovely ladies whose partnership is one of the most grounded I’ve experienced and full of lots of laughter – the ceremony was so relaxed and full of humour. And that really is something special to celebrate – particularly when they had to leave their own country (Australia who still do not allow the same human rights to everyone) and travel to New Zealand to make their union ‘official’.
The other major event which happened for me this week was the complete opposite of that happy occasion. With a very heavy heart I sadly said goodbye to my cousin. Among many many beautiful qualities he possessed he always appeared to approach everything in life with a kind loving nature and a great big smile on his face. No matter what adversity this thing called life presented to him.
My gorgeous cousin was a loving husband to his husband for over two decades. Looking back through his photos there’s one of them way back in 1994 celebrating their ‘marriage’ with a fully spectacular ceremony including the grooms dressed in top hats and big purple silk cravats – very 1990s!!
Those cravats weren’t the only brave thing about that ceremony though – for me, it is the fact that in the States and in most of the world – the early 90s were still a time of discrimination against people choosing to love differently from heterosexuals.
My cousin leaving this world is a shock to us all. And it has had me doing alot of thinking, especially that wedding photo. Even though I never thought of it this way because I don’t consider gay couples any differently, however I realise that in these times being ‘different’ is still a big thing no matter what you’re looked upon differently for.
So, I am really proud and have much admiration for my cousin and his caring husband, for celebrating their love for each other in such times, with their families and friends there to support them. I just wish he was here so I could tell him personally.
And that is what it is all about – love.
Our love is with you always cuz. ♥
Do you remember these Love is… cartoons? If you’re my age or more you’ll remember them from the ’70s – they were really popular and I especially remember the cute little books they came in.
What I didn’t know until today when I googled was they were created by a New Zealand cartoonist Kim Casali (nee Grove) in the late 1960s, originating from a series of love notes that Grove drew for her future husband, Roberto Casali.
How cute is that??
It’s very sad to read that Kim stopped working on the cartoon in 1975 so she could spend more time with her beloved husband Roberto – the inspiration for Love is… who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
From that time Casali commissioned London-based British cartoonist Bill Asprey to take over the writing and drawing of the daily cartoons for her, under her pen name. Asprey has produced the cartoon continuously since 1975. Upon her death in 1997, Casali’s son Stefano took over Minikim, the company which handles the intellectual rights.
The strip was first published in 1970, under the pen name “Kim”, and was syndicated soon after. One of her most famous drawings, “Love Is…being able to say you are sorry”, published on February 9, 1972, was marketed internationally for many years in print, on cards and on souvenirs. The beginning of the strip coincided closely with the 1970 film Love Story. The film’s signature line is “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” At the height of their popularity in the 1970s the cartoons were earning Casali £4-5 million annually. Incredible money back in the day! The strip is syndicated worldwide by Tribune Media Services.
Here are some rave reviews from a magical Masterton wedding day I event managed. (they had a religious officiant, otherwise I am sure they would have chosen me as their Celebrant 😉 haha)
Read more about Tracey & Hayden’s wedding by clicking here!
And check out the detailed vintage rustic chic theming here!