Same sex marriage in the USA

At last!

EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW.

Australia – now it’s your turn.

67 years of marriage!!!

After 67 years of marriage a Kapiti couple in their 90s passed away within two hours of one another. They were in the same resthome room together just like in the movie The Notebook.

“They were strong Christians and therefore they knew where they were going, and they had no problem about going there,” their son said this afternoon of his late parents Hugh, 94, and Joan, 92.

The NZ Herald reported they had been married for 67 years after meeting in the Hutt Valley and died on Tuesday at Eldon Lodge, Paraparaumu, where they were cared for since moving from their Waikanae home two and a half months ago.

His father, a retired Baptist minister suffering from cancer, passed away just two hours before his mother, who had a stroke on Sunday.

How wonderful they got to enjoy 67 years together – and in their own home too, up until recently. That is just incredible. Especially in this day and age.

Asked whether they might have had any premonition of their close departure, their son said: “It’s so hard to know – it almost seems like it, doesn’t it?”

Sharing the love ♥ another awesome testimonial!

My very gorgeous Bride & Groom Davinia & Gustavo, who are excitedly expecting their first child had this to say about my celebrant service:

Kimberly was more than we could have ever asked for.

From the first moment we met Kimberly, we instantly clicked. Her endless energy and positivity is contagious and exactly what we wanted for our special day. She instantly took charge of the organization and kept us on track, giving us brilliant ideas, options and pointers for the ceremony.

I can highly recommend her to anyone wanting an unforgettable day and can assure that she will brighten up any ceremony with her bubbly personality and professionalism. Thank you Kimberly so so much for all of your hard and magnificent work!!!

All the very best of luck for your future and your little family!! xx

Memorable Wedding Toasts

If you’re the Bride & Groom you worry what’s going to come out at the Wedding Reception Speeches! If you’re guests or the MC you wonder how long they are going to run (over)!

Recently there has been some great press about wedding speeches, for inspiration here are a couple from George Clooney’s wedding and from Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden’s…

Apparently Nick Clooney, George’s Dad, had the guests in tears with this:

The loveliest, most intriguing city on the planet. CHECK. A glittering assembly of accomplished people. CHECK. A beautiful bride. CHECK. A nervous groom. CHECK.

We are deep in the age of irony. … We cherish our guilty pleasure of skepticism,” he continued. “Then here comes George, the crown prince of irony, getting down on one basketball-battered knee and asking the savvy Amal to marry him. And if you think that’s crazy, Amal said ’YES!’

In their tidal wave of generosity. Amal and George present us with one more gift, Hope. No, it’s more than hope. Hope is too ephemeral. … It is belief that in this place and at this moment, love is alive and well.

(I couldn’t find any wedding photos of these two, but the Kiss Cam (get it) photos are so cute)

Cameron Diaz, the 42 year old Bride herself, delivered a touching speech at her wedding, to her new husband and explained why he was ‘The One’ in front of family and friends at the reception.

I waited because I didn’t want to settle. Now I got the best man ever. My special man. He’s mine.

Cameron wasn’t the only one to speak in front of the star-studded guests. Joel also got some laughs when it was his turn to acknowledge their special day.

I only asked to be in control of two things: The music and the cake.

Great tips to get you started

Toastmasters NZ run some great courses on not only delivering speeches well, but what to talk about.

Set the tone
Giving a wedding toast is a special moment during the wedding reception. Wedding toasts are meant to set the tone for the rest of the reception, allow the guests to learn more about the bride or groom, and to celebrate the couple’s new life together. A toast is also used to wish the couple well and to remind them to remember this wonderful day always and why they decided to marry.

A toast is only part of the reception celebration, but it can be a very special time. In fact a well-prepared toast can be a memorable gift to both the bride and the groom. The best man, a friend or relative usually toasts the bride, or both bride and groom.

Secrets to a Great Wedding Toast

1. Prepare what you are going to say, write it down and practice ahead of time. Find out how much time has been allowed for your toast.
2. Make sure everyone has a filled glass. Traditional toasting drinks are champagne, wine, mixed drinks or even non-alcoholic punch.
3. Stand and face the person/s whom you are toasting.
4. Raise your glass up with your right hand.
5. Use a microphone if necessary. There is nothing worse than losing the audience’s attention because they can’t hear what you have to say.
6. Say your toast mentioning those you are toasting by name, your relationship to them and a thought about their good fortune and their future. Add witty anecdotes wherever possible but don’t recite a joke or story that only means something to a few people. And don’t embarrass the recipient! Use notes if necessary but keep it short and sincere.
7. Wave your glass to all and cap off the toast with a hearty “To the Bride and Groom” or “Cheers!”
8. Take a sip and sit down.

Other Useful Resources

Visit the following websites for information and resources:

http://www.great-wedding-toasts.com/ for Wedding Toasts

http://www.weddings.co.nz/features/toasts-and-speeches.php – New Zealand’s premier online wedding magazine and directory

http://www.weddingspeeches.co.nz/ – for help with preparing and delivering wedding speeches

http://www.hitched.co.uk/speeches/examples/index.asp – for examples of wedding speeches

or search for “wedding speeches”, “wedding toasts” etc on Google

Men redefining masculinity

  I was listening to George FM this morning and you know how we were just talking about Brides changing their name – well, Avatar actress Zoe Zaldana’s husband has apparently changed his name to hers!

It seems like the couple had a whirlwind marriage a few years ago stating:

The moment I met my husband, we were together. We knew.

How gorgeous. 

Of course obnoxious Dj Thane Kirby had quite a bit to say on the subject.

But here’s what the papers are saying!

Zoe Saldaña made headlines this week when she revealed that her husband Marco Perego has taken her last name.

Getting some backlash, the actress spoke out on Facebook, standing behind her man’s decision despite her initial hesitation.

“Fathers, sons, brothers, men everywhere: Your legacy will not perish if you take your partner’s surname, or she keeps hers,” Saldaña wrote. “I shared my hesitation with him … (and) he also asked me, ‘Why not? What are you so afraid of?’ And it made me wonder.”

She continued: “Why is it so surprising, shocking-eventful that a man would take his wife’s surname? Women have never been asked if it’s OK for them to give up their names — why doesn’t that make the news?”

The 34-year-old actress revealed in an interview with InStyle that she tried to talk Perego out of it.

“I told him, ‘If you use my name, you’re going to be emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world.’ But Marco looks up at me and says,’ Ah, Zoe, I don’t give a s—t.’”

Saldaña said men will not cease to exist by following in her husband’s footsteps, but instead will be remembered “as a man who stood by change.”

“I know our sons will respect and admire their father more because their father led by example,” she wrote. “Gentlemen, I implore you to think outside the box – remove the box altogether. Let’s redefine masculinity.”

The “Avatar” actress said she hopes the buzz garnered by her story will inspire others to have the conversation and “for us all to look within and see what is truly important.”