Biosophilia

I have one word for you:
- Money - at least that is what slowed down the process for us.
Also they weren't planning their first wedding so it was more low key. I guess it just depend on each individual couple and what they want.

I wish I could have been there! I'm looking forward to the reception here. Believe me, it's going to be a fun one.

"beauty of simplicity"--what a great phrase. It communicates so much using so few words. In its form, it demonstrates what is communicates. Beautiful.

Our culture, and in particular the church, mostly believe that couples must date for a long time (at least a year) before they make the decision to get married. Yet study after study seems to indicate that couples that meet and marry within 12 months have the most successful marriages. I am convinced that one of the reasons we have such a high divorce rate in this country is that couples "date" too long before getting married.

I think there's something to be said for knowing each other fairly well before getting married. And for knowing yourself.

I think that, at the age of 33, I know more about myself and what I like and need and can offer, and that knowledge will make the dating process easier and maybe faster for me. But I sure wouldn't advise fast-track dating/courting for all couples.

Though Courtney and I knew each other a good while before we got together, we only dated for 3-1/2 months, and we were engaged for 2 months. We wanted to get married as soon as possible--and it just so happened that either we got married after 2 months of engagement or wait a year. Since we were able to pull it off that quickly, I know it is possible now (and I never would have thought so before). So, it is hard for me to imagine wanting to wait longer, unless it is absolutely necessary. Once you decide you want to get married--other than wedding technicalities (like the issue JenLiz mentioned)--then I just don't see the point in waiting. Of course, this is after deciding this is the ONE you want to marry.

Thanks so much for coming this morning :) It meant ALOT to all of us! According to Mom, when you have lived as long as Grandma and Grandpa (hehe...i have a GRANDPA!!! HOW AWSOME IS THAT!??! ok..back to my point), you KNOW what you want. No need to wait and see. :) Last night at the rehearsal dinner though, a comment was made (as a joke) about what they should do for the 50th anniversary. Yes, i laughed at first..then it hit. They won't be here for another 50 years. Right then and there I prayed for them, and for everybody else i knew who was married. May God bless y'all with many years!!! So many ppl have been such a good influence on me, on what kind of guy I should look for. How I should handle things, you have no idea how grateful I am to know you (Lisa and Courtney), Bart and Jen, Aaron and Amy, Aaron and Aleta, Chandler and Ragan. My parents, my grandparents, aunt and uncle..I realized how God has blessed me with all these wonderful ppl to look up to. So basicly, I just wanted to thank y'all for all you have done for me, you've helped me in more ways than you know..in so many areas already :) Ok..i have a feeling this post has gone somewhat crazy, but i don't beleive in deleting stuff i've written ;) Because if i do...then i won't be showing "me". hehe :)

I think Mike hit the nail on the head. However, I do think there can be some dangers in a long engagement - if you know you're going to marry the person, go ahead and do it as soon as you can and avoid those, er, temptations.

Wish we could've been there... I'll miss Mrs. Dutcher Holiday.

Don't worry Shannon, she'll be back occasionally. I'll be rather hurt if she and Grandpa don't come back for my birthday! Hope to see you at the August 9 reception!!

Traditional weddings are ENTIRELY too long. I mean, c'mon--who wants to hear sappy, canned love songs being played over a church PA system while the bride and groom stare into the love-struck fathomless pools of each others' eyes? Who needs all of the, "we are gathered here today to witness this man and this woman blah blah blah blah," really? Ok, we know why we're here--get to it! I can't stand 'Unity Candles' and all of that garbage. You know who makes up all of this ceremonial junk? Salesmen who specialize in selling wedding-related items who want a constant demand for their stuff. And people BUY it. Marriage itself can be the most beautiful thing in the world. I feel that far too often the cheesy ceremonies we take part in cheapen it.

Ron, I mean, I dig all the wedding stuff, just as long as its classy or traditional. Unity candles & and second cousins sing "I Will Be Here" by Stephen Curtis Chapman is neither traditional nor classy.

My wedding was somewhere around 30 minutes, maybe a bit over. I thought it was perfect. 3 hymns, short homily, friends playing da guitar singing Allison Krauss as the prelude. I enjoyed it.

The reception is the kicker though. I'm all about a big party. Gotta have some friends who know how to jam.

Jon and I dated for 4 months before engagement and were married 7 months later. But he told me a week after our first date that he wanted to marry me. Am I glad we waited almost a year? Yeah, I think so. It gave me time to prepare things and finish school. I think it also is a bit different for me than Lisa though since I had to pack up and move across the country.

Candice and I met on May 2, 1992. I asked her to marry me on July 4, 1992 and we were married on November 20th 1992. The wedding cost me $150.00, the rings cost me nothing(I have my grandfather's ring and she has my great grandmother's ring). We had family and a few friends at the wedding and Mickey Humphries did the ceremony(we miss him). The point is this: big weddings are fine, but not necessary. Candice and I really felt no stress over anything leading up to, during, or after the ceremony. There were no caterers to worry about, no huge bills to pay, it was simple. I am not saying that these things are bad, they aren't. I simply think we forget many times that what we are doing is celebrating with two people, not being entertained by them. Having said that, I feel like every wedding I've seen at AAPC has been beautiful and properly done.