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    In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this man had to make a decision of vital importance: to stay in Cairo or take the last available flight to Canada to be with his girlfriend. He chose the latter.

    Eihab Boraie was in Cairo when the covid-19 broke out. His Italian-American girlfriend, Francesca Brunndisini, is in Quebec City. As the global health crises deepened and became increasingly serious, Boraie realised he had to act fast.

    Soon things became more tense, as Egpyt announced that airports would shut down on March 19. This meant that the very few left over tickets were much more expensive than usual. But Boraie took his chances anyway. He didn’t expect things to work out.

    “I assumed the only way I would be travelling home was if the Canadian government sent a plane to retrieve stranded Canadians,” he wrote on CNN.

    Miraculously, he secured a seat on the very last flight to Canada. So he set off  to be with his girlfriend, leaving behind his loving parents who’s health he worried about.

    Once he arrived in Quebec City, he couldn’t wait any longer. The first thing he did when he saw Brunndisini was to get down on one knee and propose.

    Credit: Facebook / Eihab Boraie

    “She was completely caught off guard as less than 48 hours before she didn’t know when and if she would ever see me again, let alone predict that I would ask her to marry me,” he said.

    “She accepted my proposal, we removed our masks and made it official with a long kiss,” he added.

    Boraie joked that they sealed the deal with a ring and the possibility that he could have passed her the virus in that moment.

    “When the world is healed, our plan is to get married in Italy on the island of Giglio, but it’s hard to imagine when that will be. Until that day the only couple goals we set in stone is to stay isolated and survive the quarantine,” he said.

    Image: Facebook / Eihab Boraie

    Finding the perfect engagement ring is a tough task! If you’re a groom-to-be, or have experienced the ring shopping rush then you know a bit about this. We bet a one-stop-shop for finding the dream ring is exactly what soon-to-be-husbands are yearning for.

    Rowena Cumner, a 34-year-old Londoner, launched her engagement business, Agent Engagement, in 2015. The business helps men find the perfect engagement ring, assisting them in the full process including sourcing the ring and transporting it through airport security.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7isPFlgi6H/

    Cumner offers the service at no cost at all, with her income coming from commission from jewelers. According to Daily Mail, Cumner thought up this business idea when her friend requested that she assist in bringing a ring across London.

    About her business she said: “I started being Agent E to help people save time, hassle or money when searching the engagement ring market and it just became really fun. From teachers to doctors, builders to bankers, my clients seemed to find it fun too, pretending to be 007 running around creating the perfect ring.

    “The best part is that my clients never tell their partners that I’ve helped them. They want them to think they did it all by themselves,” she added.

    Included in her job description is ensuring that brides don’t catch on to the upcoming proposal. She claims that at times she speaks to clients more than 30 times a day, if they’re working with a deadline.

    Apparently, getting rings through airport security is the most difficult part. “Usually we get around this with a giant post-it note on the ring box alerting airport staff that it’s a surprise engagement ring and not to be opened carelessly,” she said.

    “Sometimes the rings are so precious we can’t risk a problem in security, so I once booked a £1 EasyJet flight to Dublin, just so I can get the ring through airport security slowly, in order to pass it over to my client outside Pret a Manger in Gatwick while his girlfriend was in the loo,” she added.

    Cumner takes pride in her business and is tremendously happy helping clients create the perfect proposal. “I will stop at nothing to help my clients pop the question with complete peace of mind – as long as it’s legal,” she said.

    Here are some of her happy clients:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7o0MhogATQ/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ8GeFRAomV/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ebxm_Ax4E/

    Image: Instagram / Agent Engagement

    The show must go on in any way possible, right? This couple took a humorous approach to their postponed wedding by having a miniature wedding in quarantine…for their wedding favours.

    Frankie and Mark, living in Thailand, were scheduled to marry in the UK. Of course, with the coronavirus outbreak, their wedding had to be postponed. The couple were left with 115 Lindt bunnies they had planned to use as wedding favours. While disappointed that their wedding could not go on as planned, the pair decided to have a little fun and lighten the mood.

    They lined all the bunnies up and staged a mini wedding, complete with a veil for the bunny bride.

    “We decided to stage some recreations – mainly to stop us just scoffing the whole lot of them.” Mark told Metro UK.

    Mark shared the big day on social media, writing, “So our wedding has been postponed for obvious reasons and we had 115 chocolate Lindt bunnies as wedding favours – time for a bunny wedding of course!”

    This wasn’t the end of the bunnies day. They then hopped onto an ark (while maintaining safe social deistancing, naturally) and even competed in the Bunny Olympics.

    Feature image: Instagram

    Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell said ‘I do’ in a small ceremony on March 25. Despite planning their big day for over a year, all their plans had to change amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Irwin shared the news on social media, explaining that the wedding was a small ceremony at the Australia Zoo where they all live, with no guests in attendance beside her mother and brother.

    “March 25th 2020 ❤️ We held a small ceremony and I married my best friend. There are no words to describe the amount of love and light in my heart right now. We’ve planned this beautiful day for nearly a year and had to change everything, as we didn’t have guests at our wedding. This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe,” Irwin wrote on her Instagram page. 

    “We wish all of our friends and family could have been there with us, however it’s lovely that we will be able to share photos and videos. Right now we’re encouraging the world to hold onto hope and love, which will carry us forward during this profound time in history.”

    The wedding was a meaningful moment for her family. Irwin’s mother helped her get ready, her brother walked her down the aisle and they had a special tribute to her father, Steve Irwin.

    “Today we celebrated life and revelled in every beautiful moment we shared together in our Australia Zoo gardens. Mum helped me get ready, Robert walked me down the aisle, Chandler became my husband and together we lit a candle in Dad’s memory. We shared tears and smiles and love. Thankfully, since we all live at Australia Zoo as a family, we could be there for each other. To everyone reading this – stay safe, social distance and remember LOVE WINS!”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KCn5SBLmD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Congrats to the couple!

    Feature image: Instagram / Bindi Irwin

    As the coronavirus pandemic continues throughout the world, couples are forced to be creative in maintaining some sense of normalcy.

    Ellie Morgan in Chattanooga realised she’d have to think out of the box if she wanted her wedding festivities to go ahead safely. Her May wedding had already been postponed to limit large social gatherings.

    “You have this picture of the perfect wedding and all that stuff and then it all comes crashing down,” Morgan told Channel 3.

    Her wedding shower was ready to go, but could not continue the way it was planned. Instead, her bridal party threw her a drive-through shower. Guests drove up to the driveway and, while maintaining a safe distance, presented Morgan with gifts.

    “They would just drive up and hand us our gift out of their window,” laughed Morgan. “We would open the gift in front of them, take a quick picture beside their car, hand them a cookie and a squirt of sanitizer and send them on their way!”

    Despite all the amazing gifts she received, Morgan says the best one was seeing her loved ones again.

    “We were just excited to see each other because we have been at home for the last week,” Morgan told Channel 3.

    Feature image: Unsplash

     

     

    On Sunday, March 22, social media was abuzz after seeing David Tlale’s traditional wedding gown aired on Our Perfect Wedding. The dress was worn by Noluthando Nxasana (now Sakayi). She won the wedding dress that was designed by the world-renowned fashion designer in collaboration with Tastic Rice.

    Tlale and Tastic held a competition last year, during Heritage Month. They requested that brides-to-be share their stories on social media and on radio in order to stand a chance to win this unique dress.

    Noluthando, who comes from Table View in Cape Town, was triumphant and wore the dress at her wedding. South Africans offered much praise for the dress.

    “This is truly a dress made for a queen,” said one Twitter user, @Shazzy_D. Another user commended Tastic for making this possible and said that the bride looked amazing in her custom dress.

    “Being African means something unique to all of us. When designing the dress, I took inspiration from the way in which I saw how the country’s women and men express themselves during Heritage Month,” said Tlale.

    The collaboration between Tastic and Tlale exhibits how we celebrate our differences as well as what unifies us. The design is a stunning depiction of life as an everyday South African and celebrates te character, texture and colours that define us.

    “Every bride deserves a coutour moment and we are very excited to have made one special bride’s dreams come to life,” said Thembi Sehloho, Marketing Director of Rice and Pasta at Tiger Brands.

    Noluthando’s two-day wedding took place in Cape Town. The happy couple celebrated their white wedding as well as their traditional union, which were both attended by friends, family, and the community.

    Images: Supplied

    The world has come to a standstill following the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the globe, every industry has been affected. What’s meant to be a happy, special moment in peoples’ lives have been postponed or cancelled. This couple, however, got creative and decided to hold a virtual wedding.

    Andrew and Cassidy Dayton from Missouri had planned to tie the knot on April 25. However, as the pandemic worsened, they realised their dream day could not go on the way they had planned.

    “The important part for us was being married,” Cassidy said. “Getting married was kind of secondary to becoming husband and wife.”

    So, they hatched a plan. They contacted all their wedding guests and invited them to their big day which would be streamed live on Facebook. The pair said ‘I do’ at the Community of Christ’s Arnold congregation where they first met. They always wanted to get married there but because of their large guestlist, they needed a bigger venue.

    “When we got the notification yesterday that the pastor was going to allow us to go inside the church, I just started crying because it was literally something I had dreamed of being able to do. So, it made yesterday even more special for us,” said Cassidy.

    200 of their friends and family tuned in for their wedding, including quarantined family members all the way in Italy.

    “Even though there weren’t people there, it turned out to be a bigger wedding than we planned,” Andrew said.

    Their guests even got into the wedding spirit.

    “We had several friends send pictures to us or Snapchat of themselves all dressed up: ties, dresses, with their little kids,” Cassidy said. “They were watching as a family. It was amazing.”

    While the decision to go ahead with their wedding despite not being able to have their family physically present was a hard one to make, Cassidy could see that it was necessary.

    “I was convinced by [Andrew] and some other family members that, especially right now, people could use some joy,” Cassidy said. “And if we could share that with them, even just a little bit, by letting everyone see us get married and be there with us virtually, that we should do it.”

    Also read:Don’t cancel your wedding, live stream it

    Feature image:Unsplash

    As the COVID-19 situation worsens, people across the globe are cancelling their big days to do their part in flattening the curve. This couple decided to go through with their wedding while still maintaining social distancing in a very creative way.

    Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler from New York City were set to marry in October. However, the current climate has shown that even the best laid plans can go awry.

    “We were supposed to get married in October. The reality of that happening in our current climate seemed slim,” explains Reilly in an Instagram post. “Amanda’s business closed and everything has just blown up. We got our marriage license yesterday and were walking out the door to get hitched at the courthouse when the mayor announced the immediate closure of the marriage bureau.”

    Luckily for the couple, they had a very good friend who could lend them a helping hand.

    “After several hours of crying (& drinking), one of our dear friends @iknowmattwilson sent us a message saying he was ordained and could marry us through the state of NY (NYC has weird laws that you have to be married by someone ordained by this county clerk). We said YES, finished our work meetings, walked down the street to his apartment and got married below his fourth story window as the neighborhood looked on alongside 4 of our best friends @kktapper @harold_gibbons @joselynmujica (& @erikahenningsen through a car because #socialdistancing).”

    While still maintaining social distancing, the couple tied the knot in an incredibly creative, memorable way. While unusual, this moment was meaningful for the pair.

    “What a day. Amidst the uncertainty and despair we all feel right now, marrying the love of my life in the most NYC moment was perfect. I’ve waited 4 years to call @wheelsfit my wife and this was all just the cherry on top of the love i feel every day. ❤️”

    Watch the amazing video below:

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    We’re happy to see couples still keeping the love and positivity alive. Please remember to stay safe and responsible during this time

    Feature image: Instagram / Reilly Jennings

    Couples across the world are unfortunately having to postpone their weddings due to the spread of the coronavirus. This, understandably, is devastating to them. Months or even years of planning and thousands spent on the event, all gone to waste. This South Carolina bride, however, wanted to do something good despite her disappointment.

    Keali Lay teamed up with her florist to donate her wedding flowers to “people in need of happiness and cheer”.

    In a Facebook post Lay said, “We are beyond devastated that our wedding on Saturday 3/21 had to be postponed. ? There are no words to describe this feeling, especially when we were 4 days away (FOUR!!). We were engaged on August 30 I was ready to have a wedding and had most everything booked and planned by September 6.”

    After deciding to postpone her wedding, Lay called all her vendors to inform them. Angela Mandigo, her florist, was on top of her list as she was aware that the flowers had already come in but she didn’t want them to go to waste. The two thus devised a plan to donate the flowers.

    “It makes me feel a little better that this horrible thing has happened, [but] but something happy is coming out of it,” said Lay to Good Morning America.

    The flowers were donated and happiness and cheer was indeed spread.

    Image credit: Good Morning America (courtesy of Angela Mandingo)

    “I’m hoping as other flower shops and brides see this they will give back to the community and lift their spirits,” said Mandigo to Good Morning America. 

    The couple still intend to get married on March 21, 2020 as they have been approved by the State of South Carolina. However, they will be doing so in the presence of immediate family and close friends only. They also still plan to have their planned big day, but they are yet to confirm when it will happen.

    Lay is also hoping that couples around the world are able to see the bigger picture during these uncertain times. “You’ve already accomplished the best part of getting married, which is finding your partner and best friend. A wedding is just a big party, but marriage is so much more than that,” she said.

    Congrats to the happy couple and hopefully they have their special celebration soon!

    Image: Unsplash

    Amid the COVID-19 pandemic affecting countries worldwide, the Church of England has taken a definitive stance by restricting wedding parties to five people.

    All over the world, people are postponing their big days as governments instill lockdowns and self-quarantine instructions. While people may not have the large event they imagined, they do still have the option of tying the knot, albeit it on a much smaller scale.

    The Church of England has sanctioned that weddings will now be curtailed to the legal minimum of five people. This includes the bridal couple, the wedding officiant and two witnesses.While the two partners may stand close together, those attending the wedding will be required to practice social distancing. The priest will not be required to touch the rings to bless them, nor will they have to touch the bridal couple’s hands as part of prayer.

    The Church is also putting measures in place to allow guests to attend the wedding virtually.

    “Where family relatives or friends are unable to attend given the restrictions on numbering, churches will be happy to explore ways to allow others to join the service, either through platforms such as Skype, or recording the service to send at a later date to anyone unable to attend,” they write. “Where no audio link can be achieved, an order of service could be sent either by email or post.”

    “No additional church personnel will attend the service, for example organists, vergers or sound system operator etc.”

    Still want to go ahead with your wedding but practising social distancing? Why not livestream it?

    Image: Unsplash