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    Indian man marries two women simultaneously

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    A man in Betul, a district in Madhya Pradesh, India got married to two women at the same time in the same ceremony on July 8. The nuptials were attended by villagers and family members, who witnessed what may be the first wedding ever with two brides marrying the same man.

    Sandeep Uike, the groom in question, married two women, one from a district called Hoshangabad and the other from Koyalari village. He first met his Hoshangabad bride while he was in Bhopal for his studies. While he dated the woman, his family began plans for an arranged marriage between him and the woman from Koyalari village. Of course, all parties involved were unhappy, and the families of all three met to resolve the matter.

    Together, they came to the conclusion that, should both women agree, Uike would marry both of them. It is apparent that they both agreed, and the wedding plans commenced.

    Mishrilal Parate, vice-president of Janpad Panchayat Ghodadongri (a governmental organisation) told The Siasat Daily that none of the family members were opposed to the union.

    The ceremony took place in a village called Keria, and the required rituals were performed. According to The Siasat Daily, this was the first occasion in history where a man made vows to two women at the same time.

    Authorities in the district, however, are investigating the event and how it occurred since weddings are not yet allowed due to coronavirus restrictions. They said that permission is needed for weddings to take place, and none was given to these families.

    Image: Unsplash

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    In Weddings

    Alternative wedding cakes for those who prefer something different

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    These days, people aren’t afraid to be different. If you’re not a fan of cake there’s no issue with straying from tradition. Stepping out of the box is more popular than ever. For couples wanting to switch it up, alternative cakes are the perfect option.

    You don’t have to go without confections on your wedding day if you’re not a cake lover. Your options are endless. From pancakes, doughnuts, and cupcakes to cheese, cookies, and waffles, you can choose anything you’d prefer.

    Add a unique twist with these alternative wedding cake ideas:

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    Image: Unsplash

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    In Celebs

    Minnie Dlamini and husband celebrate 3rd traditional anniversary

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    South African on-air personality, actress and model Minnie Dlamini-Jones and her husband, former football player Quinton Jones celebrated their 3rd traditional wedding anniversary, on Wednesday, July 8. Dlamini was spoiled by her husband, as her birthday falls close to the anniversary too.

    In a post on Instagram, Dlamini gushed over her husband and the gifts he got her.

    “Today is our traditional wedding anniversary ❤️ Yesterday my husband suprized me with a Zoom party for my almost 30th (29.5 ?) He got me an @asandamadyibi outfit to match the theme, got the patio looking beautiful and got my friends and family to join me on a Zoom call the whole day… He didn’t miss a BEAT, it was PERFECT ? And I got diamonds ?,” she said.

    “Thank you to everyone that made my day special, from the messages, the flowers, the gifts everyone that thought of me yesterday I appreciate and LOVE you all soooo much!!! But my husband more ??❤️ Thank you Baby ?,” added Dlamini.

    The photos show Dlamini and Jones posing in front of a wall of gold and white balloons for her birthday.

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    Dlamini and Jones made it official in a colourful traditional wedding at Glenn Hills in Northern Durban, KwaZulu Natal, on July 8, 2017.

    South African stars such as Basetsana Kumalo, Jessica Nkosi, Anele Mdoda, Zakes Bantwini, Nandi Madida, Criselda Dudumashe, Jimmy Tau and Unathi Msengana were all in attendance.

    Sunday World reported that guests in attendance were required to wear wristbands to ensure that no strangers or uninvited guests were able to get in, and guests were asked not to take pictures. However, several pictures from the day cropped up online.

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    Their white wedding took place later that year on September 16 at the Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West in Cape Town.

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    In October 2017, Dlamini detailed how she met her husband in an Interview on Jacaranda FM.

    “I met my husband seven years ago [2010] when we both worked at Urban Brew Studios, he was  much senior than me and I was an assistant runner or something, and he honestly became my best friend,” she said.

    According to her, the friendship grew stronger and stronger, but they were never single at the same time.

    “Then a couple of years ago we were both single, and he was like, ‘why don’t we give it a shot?’ I was like, ‘no that’s weird’. ‘He was like no one knows you like me, and no one knows me like you,” she said.

    Thereafter, they were together for a year, however, it was not official.

    “So for a year we were together but weren’t official. Then he took me on holiday and asked me to be his girlfriend. And I was like, I really like you,” she said.

    The pair have been madly in love and happy as ever since then.

    Image: Instagram / Minnie Dlamini

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    In Advice

    The importance of engagement ring insurance

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    There are two pieces of jewellery that you’d never want to lose or replace. These are your engagement ring and your wedding ring. Unfortunately, mistakes do happen.

    You could lose your ring by mistake, misplace it or forget it in a different city while you’re travelling. It could also get stolen or it may get damaged. If any of these were to happen, we know you’d like to ensure that you can replace the ring, or get it fixed.

    Solutions may cost you big bucks though. That is unless you have insurance. Ring insurance is imperative! You’ve probably spent a lot of money on the ring. It’s bad enough that you lose the sentimental value of the ring. Let’s not have you lose the monetary value too. That would just add insult to injury.

    Getting insurance isn’t that difficult to do, so make it a top priority post engagement.

    All you need to do is call up the insurance broker and ask them what insurance options are on offer. Often people think jewellery is automatically covered in home insurance. However, this is often not the case.

    If your ring is stolen from your home, it will be covered under home insurance. But often, if the ring exceeds coverage limits you won’t be able to claim for it. If you’re planning on wearing your ring outside the house (of course you are) you will need to specify the ring under “All Risks” on your insurance policy.

    It is, of course, possible to get stand-alone insurance for your ring, however its much more affordable to have the ring insured under an existing homeowners policy or something similar to that.

    Important to remember for ring insurance, is that you can’t just call and ask. You have to show the insurer the proof of value of the ring. This is what to do before you call any brokers. Get your ring appraised and keep the evaluation as proof of ownership too. If you can’t produce this evidence, insurers may not cover you if your ring is lost or stolen.

    So if you’ve just been given a ring, get those documents and get it insured. You’ll ensure that all is not lost, even though your ring may be.

    Image: Unsplash

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    In Celebs

    Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s unusual wedding

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    The wedding of the King of rock ‘n roll, Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley has gone down in history for its unusual nature. We take a look at this infamous couple’s walk down the aisle.

    Presley met his future wife, Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in 1959 when she was only 14 years old and he was 24. At the time, Elvis was serving in the army and Priscilla’s family lived on the base as her father was an Air Force Captain.

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    After Elvis returned to his estate in Memphis, the pair kept in touch until Priscilla’s parents allowed her to move there when she was 17. According to Country Living, her parents only allowed it on the condition that they would eventually get married.

    The pair became engaged in 1966 when Elvis proposed to Priscilla with a three and a half carat diamond ring, with 20 smaller diamonds surrounding it. It is rumoured that, at the time, Elvis did not want to get married. Rather, he went through with it as he felt pressure from Prescilla’s father to do so.

    This wedding has gone down in history as one of the most-talked-about ceremonies in the 20th century.

    The wedding was organised by Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager. He gathered everyone to Palm Springs for the big day. “Just after midnight on May 1, [1967],” wrote Elvis’s school friend George Klein in a book, “the wedding party snuck out the back door of Elvis’s Palm Springs home, climbed over the backyard wall, and got into a car to head to the airport. Elvis had been loaned Frank Sinatra’s private jet for the occasion.”

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    Another plane brought the guests, and they arrived at the Aladdin Hotel where they exited through the back to ensure they weren’t seen.

    Elvis and Priscilla made it official early in the morning after they were given their marriage license at the Las Vegas Courthouse.  A supreme court judge married the pair in a suite at the Aladdin, and the room was filled with flower petals and candles. There were only 14 people present.

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    “My wedding was very unusual,” Priscilla once said. “It was the people closest to us, and private, and that’s how we wanted it. We didn’t want a fan club. We didn’t want a circus.”

    Priscilla’s sister was the maid of honour, and two members of Elvis’s entourage, Marty Lacker and Joe Esposito,  stood as the co-best men.

    After their intimate wedding, they held a press conference and then threw a breakfast buffet for 100 guests. They served roast suckling pig, oysters Rockefeller, lobster, Champagne, and Southern fried chicken.

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    They had a six-tier sponge cake, with apricot marmalade filling and liqueur-flavoured cream for dessert.

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    In 1968, the couple welcomed their first and only child together, Lisa-Marie. Their marriage struggled after both had affairs, and Elvis’s touring took him away from home for extended periods of time. They separated in 1972 and formalised their divorce in 1973 after six years of marriage

    Image: Instagram / elvispriscilla

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    David and Victoria Beckham celebrate 21 years of marriage

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    David and Victoria Beckham celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary this past weekend. The pair, despite their massive fame, did what most others would do on an occasion like this and had a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant.

    Posh Spice gave fans an inside look into the date night on her Instagram page. She posted a picture of the two of them looking cozy and casual in a rustic restaurant, with a dessert laid out in front of them. Written on the plate in chocolate were the words “Happy Anniversary”.

    On the day of their anniversary, the former footballer took to Instagram to celebrate his marriage to Victoria. He posted a video showing images of the pair through the years, with some snippets of Victoria performing with the Spice Girls.

    “Well about 23 years ago I was sat in a room with Gary Neville and the spice girls were on the TV and I turned around to him and said ‘ohhhh I like that one in the little black catsuit’ ? who would have thought that all these years later we are celebrating 21 years of marriage and have 4 of the most beautiful and perfect kids.. Thank you & Happy Anniversary I Love You ♥️,” he wrote.

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    Victoria did the same, posting another video with the caption: “Happy Anniversary @davidbeckham ❤️❤️❤️ I can’t believe it has been 21 years since we said ‘I do’. Four children, four dogs, so much laughter and I love you more each day. xxxxxx”

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    The pair share 4 children, Brooklyn (21), Romeo (17), Cruz (15), and Harper Seven (8). The older three each posted sweet “happy anniversary” messages to their parents.

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    David and Victoria met at a charity football match in Manchester in 1997. Just a year later on January 25, 1998, they announced their engagement.

    A few months before they married, they welcomed their first child, Brooklyn. On July 4, 1999, the famed couple tied the knot at Luttrellstown Castle near Dublin. Posh wore a Vera Wang gown, paired with a gold crown designed by jeweller Slim Barrett.

    Image: Instagram / Romeo Beckham

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    Why wedding rings are worn on 4th finger of the left hand

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    A proposal leads to a ring and the ring, without a second thought, gets put on the 4th finger of the left hand (or the ring finger). The practice is so long-standing that nobody ever gives it a second thought, it almost comes naturally.

    Have you ever wondered why we wear wedding rings on this specific finger? Or has the thought simply never crossed your mind? Well fret not, you won’t have to be in the dark for much longer. Here’s why we do it.

    The practice can be traced back to ancient times. Archeologists and researchers found evidence in hieroglyphics that suggests brides wore rings, according to Readers Digest. However, this evidence says nothing of which finger the ring was worn on. In other ancient cultures, including ancient Greeks and Romans, they wore wedding rings on the left ring fingers specifically.

    At the time, these cultures believed that the vein in the fourth finger of the left hand (the ring finger) ran directly to one’s heart, according to Brides. As a result, the vein was named “vena amoris” which means “vein of love”.

    Therefore, to represent a union that focused on love, a wedding ring was placed on the finger in which the vein of love ran through.

    This very sweet reasoning behind the practice is, however, based on false beliefs. Modern science has shown that in fact, all fingers have veins connected to the heart.

    In China, a theory developed about ring fingers. According to Mervis Diamond, each finger on the left hand represents either the past, present or future generations of your family. The thumb represents your parents, the index finger represents your siblings, the middle finger is you, the fourth finger is your life-partner and the pinkie is your future children.

    The theory goes like this: Place your hands together and allow the middle fingers’ knuckles to touch, at the same time allowing your other fingers to touch. Then pull each finger apart individually. All the fingers, apart from the 4th fingers, will be able to pull apart. This represents the fact that you are not meant to stay with your parents, siblings, or children forever, but your life-partner will stick with you.

    Try it out by following this video:

    Some people credit the Anglican Church for the ring finger tradition. Insider reports that in around 1549, the Anglican Church’s Book of Common Prayer told members of the church to wear the ring on that finger, so that they would be separated from Catholics and other Christians, who wore wedding rings on the fourth finger of the right hand.

    Today, the practice is still widely recognized. However, not everyone practices it in the same way. Some couples in Europe from countries including Austria, Denmark, and Germany, wear their rings on the right hand. Married couples in India wear the ring on the right hand too, as the left hand is considered unclean, according to Readers Digest.

    Image: Unsplash

     

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    Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson celebrate sixth anniversary

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    Jessica Simpson and her husband, former NFL player Eric Johnson, celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary on Sunday [July 5]. Simpson wrote a heartfelt message to her husband on Instagram in celebration of the occasion.

    The singer posted a photo of the two of them holding a crystal butterfly, which was an anniversary gift from Johnson.

    “Eric Johnson, my Husband, I love you. 6yrs ago today I married my perfect soulmate. Our unity was written in God’s sky of colliding stars. Together we manifest dreams, nurture desire, and hold space. Destined, it always has been and always will be, forevermore. Also, anyone who knows me at all knows that this crystal butterfly is my dream gift ?, wrote Simpson, adding the quote “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

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    They met in May 2010 through friends. At the time Johnson’s divorce was not yet finalized however he had been separated from his wife at the time since October 2009.

    By November 2010, they were engaged. According to E! News Johnson proposed on November 11, at 11:11am, with “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin playing in the background and rose petals scattered on the ground.

    The pair got married in a glamorous $1.4 million wedding ceremony in July 5, 2014 that took place at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.

    They are now parents to three children, Maxwell Drew (8), Ace Knut (7), and Birdie Mae (1).

    Image: Instagram / Jessica Simpson

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    Magical Maori wedding traditions

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    There is a story in Maori folklore that tells of a great love that had been planted by the ancestors, Hinemoa and Tutanekai, on the Island of Mokoia. Their endless, amazing love is accepted as one of the greatest love stories ever told, and the tale is passed down from one generation to the next.

    Today, this love is evidenced in their traditional weddings, which they are performed with a blessing from a priest (Maori Tohunga) and their sacred ancestry Takitimu Canoe.

    It is interesting to note that before they were colonised, the Maori people did not have a marriage ceremony for low-ranking tribe members. However,  hapū (clan) and whānau (extended family) were required to approve unions. Maori marriage became legally recognised in 1909.

    Despite its history, Maori weddings have quite a few traditions. Here are some of them:

    The Welcome Call (Te Karanga) 

    Just before the couple enters the Maori Village or the wedding location, a traditional welcome call echoes across the courtyard. Its purpose is to invite the bride and groom onto the sacred land.

    There are only a few locations where Maori weddings are allowed to take place, traditionally. Included in the list of locations is Mokoia Island, Tamaki Village, Pohutu Geyser, Aorangi Peak, Four Canoes, and Fairy Springs, according to Weddings Guide.

    Song and Dance (Te Powhiri)

    Once they enter the location, a local tribe will perform a traditional song and dance for the bridal party.

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    This is followed by a practice called the Hongi, or the touching of the nose. It is a gesture that indicates goodwill and friendship between parties, according to Maori Weddings.

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    Wedding ceremony and Vows (Te Marena) 

    There are two different ways the ceremony and vows are reported to take place.

    In the first instance, the priest commences the ceremony and the couple exchange vows, after which they are serenaded with a love song called “Pokarekare ana”.

    In the second instance, the ceremony (called the Korowai Ceremony) is performed, and it is followed by a romantic gesture in which the husband places a Korowai (cloak of love) around his new wife. This is said to symbolise how his love will surround her for the rest of their lives.

    Priest Blessing (Te Manaakitanga)

    Thereafter, a priest blesses the couple, and people give Toanga (gifts) to the couple. Finally, the ceremony is closed with Hongi.

    According to Weddings Guide, the Maori people believe that when God created humans, he breathed life into their nostrils. When Maori couples perform Hongi they unite their breaths of life as one.

    Departure (Te Haere Atu)

    The bridal party are sent off with a traditional song and dance.

    Feast and Celebrations (Te Hakari)

    In celebration of the special day, they organise a night of food and entertainment. They have a Hangi feast (a traditional Māori meal is essentially a feast cooked in an earth oven for several hours) and the Maori tribe honours the bride and groom. Festivities continue until late into the night.

    Read the story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai here.

    Image: Pixabay

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    Alec and Hilaria Baldwin celebrate eighth anniversary

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    Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary on July 1. The happy couple honoured the occasion with some sweet Instagram posts.

    Baldwin shared two images of himself and his wife making their way down the aisle on their wedding day. “Eight years ago today. Luckiest day of my life,” he captioned one of the images.

    Being the funny-man that he is, he captioned the second photo: “I knew my marriage was solid because Steve Higgins was there to bless it”, as he can be seen shaking his fellow comedian’s hand in the image.

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    His wife kept her tributes more simple, posting a picture from their wedding day captioned “Happy 8 years”. Hilaria also posted some candid images of the pair on the beach, wearing their protective masks. “8 years later,” she said.

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    Their anniversary comes soon after their announcement in April that they are expecting their fifth child together.

    “Sound up … I’ll let the baby do the talking because I don’t have the words to express how this sound makes us feel,” she captioned a video of her showing off her belly, as the baby’s heartbeat played in the background.

    “Just got the great news that all is well and all is healthy with this little munchkin. I wanted to share this with you? Here we go again ?,” she added.

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    The new baby will join several siblings, Carmen Gabriela (6), Romeo Alejandro David (almost 2), Leonardo Ángel Charles (3), and Rafeal Thomas (4). Alec also has a 24-year-old daughter, Ireland, with his previous wife Kim Basinger.

    Alec and Hilaria met in 2011.  Baldwin once said: “I wandered into Pure Food and Wine on Irving Place, on an unseasonably warm February evening. My friend, @bocartist and I sat down and as I turned to my left I saw a woman who would change my life. Entirely.”

    Hilaria, speaking to the New York Times, said that Baldwin had a great opening line. “I was standing near the door with my friends when he walked up and took my hand and said, ‘I must know you’,” she recalled. “You must know me?’,” she replied, after which “he gave me his card,” she said.

    Thereafter, they had what Baldwin has called, “a whirlwind romance”.

    They tied the knot on June 29, 2012, at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City.

    Image: Instagram / Alec Baldwin

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