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Algerian couple Ahmed and Doudou made a lucky escape after being rescued by fishermen after 48 hours at sea due to their boat capsizing. The boat contained 20 people of which five died, reports the Italian arm of Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

When the incident happened, Ahmed and Doudou lost their rings and believed they were gone forever. A few weeks after the disaster, however, rescuers from the maritime rescue NGO Open Arms came across their half-sunken boat adrift in the Mediterranean on November 9. They found a red backpack that contained just a few items in it: a couple of shirts, a spare pair of shoes, a phone charger, and two wedding rings inscribed with the names Ahmed and Doudou.

“In the first moments, we thought that it probably belonged to someone that was dead or lost in the trip,” Riccardo Gatti, the president of Open Arms Italy, told CNN. “The significance and the meaning of what this was like ‘Wow … here’s something that really belonged to someone and we do not know where they are or if they still are’.”

Open Arms then shared photos of the backpack and its contents, including the rings, on social media. 

Gatti reached out to the Italian MSF to help find the owners.

“When (Open Arms) contacted us, I told them it was impossible to find the owners,” said Ahmad Al Rousan, a cultural mediator for MSF. “But they tried anyway, passing the photos of the backpack to some of the people who were on the same boat as Ahmed and Doudou. “And then they called us and said the backpack belonged to Ahmed.”

“I spoke with Ahmed directly and he started to explain to me what’s inside because the photo I sent was just of the backpack and some of the things on the deck,” Gatti said.

Ahmed had told him about the rings, explaining they were in the backpack because the couple was hoping to have them fixed after arriving to Europe.

Gatti added: “He told me he was really happy to see the photo and he was very emotional about the rings, but he’s still in shock and said ‘I keep thinking about the five people who lost their lives in front of us.”

Picture: Facebook / Open Arms Italia

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, November 18.

To celebrate the two decades of marital bliss, Catherine posted a beautiful video of their lives together captioned:”20 years ago today Michael and I were married!! What an amazing magical night that was! And 7304.85 days and nights on, I love you now as I did then. ( except for the point 85 bit) ? Thank you for the love and laughter.”

Michael also posted on Instagram a tribute to Catherine as he shared a heartwarming audio clip of how they first met. ‘Happy 20th Anniversary my darling! I love you always and forever @catherinezetajones ❤️ (Volume ⬆️) #20years.’

On the voice clip, Michael said:  “I’m watching this movie and then I say: ‘Wow, who is this girl, she’s incredible!'” A month later, he was at the Deauville Film Festival in France in August 1998, when he realised the cast of The Mask Of Zorro would be attending.

He asked his assistant to find out if Catherine would be attending, if she was alone and if she would like to have a drink with him.

 

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A post shared by Michael Douglas (@michaelkirkdouglas)

The pair met up and Douglas told her that he wanted to father her children. They started seeing each other in March 1999 and got married on November 18, 2000. Although 25 years apart, they were both born on September 25.

After being engaged for nearly a year, they tied the knot at the Plaza Hotel in New York on November 18, 2000.

Since then, Michael and Catherine have two children together – son Dylan 20, and daughter Carys, 17.

Picture: Instagram

A terminally ill superfan had his final wish fulfilled, thanks to iconic actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The original scream queen officiated the superfan’s wedding less than an hour before his death.

Horror movie-lover Anthony Woodles had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019. Prior to the diagnosis, the 29-year-old aspiring director had been in contact with Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis.

After informing her of his plans to marry long-term girlfriend Emilee, Curtis offered to officiate the wedding. They planned the big day for September 13.

The day of the ceremony, Woodle’s faced a severe health setback. As he lay unconscious in bed, surrounded by his family, Curtis officiated the wedding via a phone call.

“Anthony and Emilee, all anyone is promised is this moment,” she said during the ceremony. “We live and we love in this moment. May the blessings of God rest upon you, may his peace abide with you, may her spirit illuminate your heart now, in this moment. With the power vested in me by the internet, it is my great pleasure to tell you that you are now married people.”

The ceremony began at 10.30pm, and Woodle died at 11.17pm.

Before his death, Woodle was lucky enough to be the first outsider to watch the upcoming thriller Halloween Kills, the latest in the iconic Halloween-franchise. Director David Gordon Green set up a private screening for Woodle and Emilee.

Your wedding day is the one day that you get to live out your fantasies. All the things you dreamt of when you were young can come true on this special day.

A unity ceremony is not necessary if it is not what you want, but it might be an option that’s the perfect fit for you and your partner, whether you’re looking for something religious, historical, or sentimental.

What is a ‘unity ceremony’?

A unity ceremony is a symbolic ritual intertwined with the wedding ceremony.  They are meaningful rituals performed during your wedding to represent becoming a union.

Normally, a unity ceremony allows for other family members to participate as well, furthering its meaning and representation of two families joining together.

Light A Candle

This one is the most traditional and common option, so it’s perfect for couples who want something a bit more classic. Before the ceremony, three candles are placed on the altar: two taper candles and one large candle—the “unity candle”—in the middle. At the beginning of the ceremony, a member from each family – traditionally the mothers – lights one of the taper candles before you exchange vows.

Take A Shot

If you and your partner like taking the time to appreciate your drinks or want an excuse to calm the nerves in the middle of your ceremony, you could go straight for taking a shot of your favorite alcohol. This will have a deeper meaning for both of you.

Unity sand

This is a ceremony that is best when the whole family does it. The idea behind the sand ceremony is that, when poured together, the grains of sand will blend, and they are not easily separated from one another. You can use coloured sand, or sand from meaningful locations.

Love letters

The most sentimental ceremony hands down, is the love letters. The couple would have written love letters to each other, they take these and lock them in a box with a bottle of wine and some wine glasses.

They are only allowed to open the box on their first anniversary, share the wine, and read the letters you wrote for each other.

Jumping the broom

In this old wedding ceremony tradition, the couple hast heir hands bound together before they jump over the broom, which signifies leaving their single lives behind and jumping into their new married future together.

Pictures: Unsplash, Pixabay, Pintrest.

You never know how a wedding will affect you until you plan your own. Even the calmest and collected people can turn into bridezillas when the stress hits.

Everyone is bound to be overwhelmed in the months and days leading up to their big day. For those who believe in the astrological powers of the zodiac, their signs might have a big impact on how you behave come wedding day.

Here is what kind of bride you’ll be based on your zodiac sign.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

No one is more trendy than an Aries individual. As the first sign of the zodiac, they love to lead the way and be trailblazers, so nothing normal can be predicted with them

The Aries bride will opt for an unusual element to give their big day a talking point, like arriving on a balloon ride or by skydiving. However, like the ram it is symbolised by, Arians tend to have quick tempers you don’t want to be caught up in. They are also overly competitive, so the Aries bride will work extra hard to have the best wedding ever just for the bragging rights.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Practical yet stubborn, Taureans are classic Earth signs. They tend to be perfectionists, but are also traditionalists at heart.

This sign likes things in order, and will likely hire a wedding planner to make sure all goes to plan. They hate being rushed, so avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on them so that they don’t explode. They can also be very set in their ways, so trying to convince them otherwise is a mission in itself.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Gemini’s can be hard to pin down. They are indecisive in nature, intelligent and outgoing yet impulsive and unreliable. They are also ruled by Mercury, the planet of communications.

The Gemini bride is all over the place. Gemini changes their minds in a heartbeat, causing them to make reckless decisions. Because of this, they can be quite unreliable so it’s fair to say that this bride will infuriate others as she flips flops on wedding plans.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Highly emotional and introverted, Cancers are known for being one with their feelings. They are incredibly loyal and caring, so having their love means you will always be protected.

Being so emotional, the Cancer bride will focus on family on their big day. Their something borrowed will be extra special, and they will carry out traditions to honour their loved ones. However, Cancer signs can be quite moody and overly sensitive, so this bride will have quite a few swings as she prepares for her big day.

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Much like the king of the jungle, Leos are passionate and confident beings. They are bold personalities who like to make a statement. These trendsetters like to lead the way and would opt for something unique and daring on their big day.

The Leo bride is determined to have her way and will surprise her guests with something different. However, she is also stubborn and struggles to accept criticism because of her over-confidence, so she might not be very receptive to alternative suggestions.

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Virgos are practical perfectionists. Logical and dependable, this Earth sign is known for taking a systematic approach to life. Their style tends to be modest, simple, and polished, just like they are.

The Virgo bride’s wedding will be just like her: perfect. Every hair will be in place because she managed down to every fine detail. She is on top of everything and anticipates issues before they even arise. However, Virgo’s also tend to be very picky and overthink everything, making settling on ideas much harder.

Libra (September 23–October 22)

Like Taureans, Libras are also ruled by Venus, the planet that governs love, beauty, and money. Fun, caring, and fair, they make for excellent friends.

As a natural peacemaker, the Libra bride will be incredibly tactful and diplomatic when working with others to plan their big day. However, their indecisiveness and inability to confront situations may cause their dream wedding to slip away as they work to please everyone else.

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Scorpios tend to be very private in nature and hate to be the centre of attention. However, as the most passionate signs of the zodiac, they love to express their feelings and give in to pleasure.

Intensely goal-oriented and brave, the Scorpio bride will not hold back if they want something. However, this sign also tends to be jealous, stubborn, and controlling, so anyone trying to interfere with their plans will face their vicious sting.

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Of all the zodiac signs, Sagittarius individuals are usually the most fun. Free-spirited and independent, they love to roam free and explore the various facets of the world and life.

While their independence is what makes them so lovable, it is also their greatest weakness. Sagittarians get bored easily and like to do things their own way. They are also prone to egotism, so the Sag bride can easily get frustrated if someone is not in support of their unusual ideas.

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Capricorns are the classy sign. They are typically very grounded and thoughtful, preferring the simpler things in life. They are also incredibly hardworking

Being the independent and determined type, the Capricorn bride will not rest until she has reached her goal, or in this case her dream wedding. She will meticulously plan everything and will expect just as much from those around her because of her high standards.

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Unique, artistic, and idealistic, Aquarians seem to always be lost in their thoughts. Represented by the water bearer, the mystical healer who bestows water, or life upon the land, they are easy-going and fun yet graceful and bold.

With their progressive nature, the aquarian bride will do something different for her big day. This unique gesture will be incredibly thought out and symbolic, but their love of thinking outside of the box might lead to an idea too big to execute in reality. Aquarians also tend to have quick tempers, so this might cause them to snap easily if things don’t work out.

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Pisces individuals are dreamers, often at odds with fantasy and reality. Those with this complex sign tend to be empathetic, compassionate, and sensitive but also overly emotional, impressionable, and closed off.

Approach this bride with caution. She will want something unique for her big day, and to incorporate everyone because of her generous and compassionate nature. However, she is easily swayed which can overwhelm her, causing her to get upset and shut down.

Picture: Unsplash

Times have changed and so have traditions. There’s no need for anything to be done simply because that’s the way it has always been done.

On your wedding and the days leading up to it, you want someone close to you to help you out. Whether it’s the planning, running errands on the day, organising a stellar bachelorette or simply getting excited with you, your bestie has got your back.

Your bestie may or may not be a man. No rule says your best friend needs to be the same gender as you.

In modern times, it’s completely acceptable for men and women to be good friends with members of the opposite sex, without being romantically involved. A mature relationship can handle each other’s friends without getting jealous.

So, if you’re tying the knot but you don’t feel you have a girlfriend that you are necessarily close to, why not ask your male friend to be your ‘man of honour’?

There’s no reason he can’t take you dress shopping, cake tasting or throw an epic kitchen tea. If you do, here are some things to keep in mind:

– Your partner comes first

Hopefully, your partner is also good friends with your best friend and respects your decision, as you will respect theirs. However, insisting on asking a friend that your partner may not get along with might hurt them. If there is a history between you and the male friend, for example, your partner might not like the idea of him sharing these personal moments with you. It would be wise to be open and honest with your partner before asking the friend.

– Your male best friend’s comfort comes second

Even if your partner is completely comfortable with the idea, your friend might not be. They may be more or less at ease with spending time discussing intimate details surrounding the dress, hair and makeup, the honeymoon etc. Or they might simply not enjoy doing those things, they could end up being bored and you will end up feeling neglected. Have a casual chat with them to test the waters before the big ask, unless you know them well enough to know they will say yes –  and have fun doing it too.

– Your family’s opinions should not influence you

Oftentimes, our family’s opinions tend to shape our decisions, even as adults. Your family might be more traditional than you, and it’s important to treat them with respect. However, this is your day and the way you choose to do things are up to you and your partner. So, if they frown upon your decision, either have an open discussion with them or ignore their input, but don’t change your mind for their sake. You deserve to be happy at this very special time in your life.

Picture: Pixabay

Scottish couple Melissa Russell, 27, and Shannon McKenna, 26, have been together for six years, and getting married was not part of their plans. However, like many couples this year, the COVID-19 pandemic made them realise that they want to spend the rest of their lives together.

Melissa and Shannon had hoped for a marquee in their garden for the wedding and a few nights away at a hotel.

Melissa, who is an employee at McDonald’s, spoke to her boss about her frustrations of planning a wedding during a pandemic. Her employer, Kate, then pulled out all the stops to give them a dream wedding reception in the fast-food restaurant.

The two were legally married by a humanist celebrant in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and then went to celebrate the rest of the day at the McDonald’s Melissa works at.

On the menu for the newlyweds was a three-course meal containing Mozzarella Dippers or Chicken Selects for starters, anything on the menu for the main course and ice cream was served in crystal glasses, or apple pie and ice cream.

The couple were over the moon and so emotional about the whole thing,

“It was an absolutely fabulous day. Kate is such a lovely, helpful person and she went above and beyond, she did so many things we didn’t expect, she got the tables decorated,” said Melissa.

The newlyweds then spent a night in Loch Lomond for a brief honeymoon, before returning home.

Picture: Unsplash

On Saturday, October 31 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that they will be going to another hard lockdown that will last four weeks in preparation for Christmas and to reduce the number of rapidly growing infections.

Couple Jo Loosemore, 33, and Matthew Goffin, 37 were meant to get married on November 14. Instead, they married 24 hours after the announcement. 

Matthew said that they already had a set date, venue, and 200 guests as part of their plans for their wedding day. The ceremony was going to take place in  Devon but because of the impromptu decision to get married a day after the announcement, they got married at Church of St Martin in Witcham, Cambridgeshire instead.

Initially, the venue in Devon was chosen because of the proximity to Jo’s parents but the change forced them to get married where they lived with their son.

Jo said: “I was having a shower on Saturday morning and I heard about the news coming out so I just thought, ‘Well I’ll see if we can get it done this weekend”

The couple ran around trying to get everything ready for their new wedding date, they posted an appeal on their village’s Facebook page, which led to offers from musicians, with friends and family also helping them and they had a beautiful ceremony.

Picture: Unsplash

Taiwan has set the precedent for Asia to grow the gay rights movement. The city became the first place in the region to allow same-sex marriage in May 2019 after a political fight.

Since the Taiwanese government made same-sex marriages legal, over 4000 couples have registered their marriages. Among them were two Taiwanese female soldiers and their civilian same-sex partners, who joined close to 200 couples who walked in the army base in northern Taoyuan county before exchanging vows at an outdoor ceremony.

This is a first for the island’s armed forces, which regularly hosts mass weddings for staff.

During their big day, Lieutenant Chen Ying-hsuan addressed the masses and said that was another big step forward for the military.

“I hope more same-sex couples can bravely stand out. The military is open and we are all equal in front of love,” she told reporters.

“Our love is no different than any heterosexual couple,” added her partner,  Li Li-chen. “We are here today in the hope that more same-sex couples will join the next (mass wedding).”

Major Wang Yiand her partner Yumi Meng waved rainbow flags as they posed for photos with family in front of an armoured vehicle. The military same-sex wedding gained traction on social media when were posted on the army’s Facebook page earlier this week.

A lot of people were happy about this and sent positive congratulatory messages.

The island will hold its annual gay pride march on Saturday, with large crowds expected in one of the few places that have managed to successfully defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

Picture/s: Facebook / Taiwan Army

Wedding ceremonies have always kind of followed the same script, where the couple exchanges vow, put rings on each other’s finger, say ‘I do’ and then seal it with a kiss. It is seen as unconventional to do anything else.

That seemingly did not apply to the minister who was officiating Olivia and Fred Mancuso’s wedding ceremony. He did something that took them by surprise.

 

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In a video uploaded a  video on TikTok celebrating their one year anniversary, the pair showed what happened when they said their wedding vows. Just before being announced as husband and wife, the minister veered off script and broke out into song.

The song was a short verse that had hallelujah five times before anyone could make sense of it, she announced that they may kiss. It was a shocking but most memorable moment from their day.

@_olivia_mancuso_In honor of it almost being our one year wedding anniversary, I give you my most popular video ##Boo ##BBMAs ##FootlongShuffle ##hellofall ##yikes♬ original sound – _olivia_mancuso_

Speaking to Today, Olivia said: “It was pure shock. We didn’t put any sort of singing in our meticulously planned script so it caught us off guard.

“We did not talk to her about it afterward. We really just wanted to start celebrating with our friends and family.

She added: “Though we were a little upset, it was a small snafu in an otherwise perfect day.”

Pictures: Unsplash