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Weddings

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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

As a society, we’ve (thankfully) moved away from the skinny brow trend of the 90s and early 2000s. Today’s beauty icons are sporting a fuller, feathery brow that commands attention.

Just because you haven’t been blessed with naturally full brows, doesn’t mean you have to stay that way. Microblading has become a popular cosmetic procedure across the world, allowing people to have the brows of their dreams. This can be an amazing confidence boost for those with naturally light or sparse brows and those who lost their eyebrow hair from alopecia.

If you’re keen to ditch the eyebrow pencil, here’s what you need to know.

Pre-procedure:

Microblading is essentially a semi-permanent face tattoo. Tiny, fine-point needles creates hair-like strokes in you brow area, after which pigment is deposited into it.

The difference between microblading and eyebrow tattooing is that microblading needles do not penetrate deep layers of your skin, thus making them far less permanent.

Once meeting with your technician, you will discuss the type of brow you want. Full, feathery, straight, whatever shape and style you desire is possible. Your technician will draw the shape you want with an eyebrow pencil so that you can imagine how your brows will look when they’re done. Once you’re happy, your technician will consider your natural hair colour to determine the ink colour or colours.

The procedure:

The brow area is cleaned and numbed with a topical ointment. Using a handheld tool, your technician will begin creating superficial cuts along your brow. A pigment is then deposited into the cuts to stain the skin to appear hair-like. Once all the cuts are made, a final layer of pigment is applied for 5 minutes and then cleaned to reveal your new brows.

Pain levels vary based on the person, but most people say this procedure feels similar to the pain of eyebrow threading. It’s mainly the scratching noise that people have an issue with.

The procedure typically takes about 40 minutes to an hour from start to finish. Depending on your skin, aftercare and lifestyle, results can last from one to three years. However, you should get touch-ups every 12 months after your initial four week touch-up.

Post-procedure aftercare:

As your brows are like a tattoo, similar aftercare rules apply.

– Don’t get your brows wet for the first seven to 10 days. You need to keep the area as dry as possible. After this time, you may gently wash the area with antibacterial soap and water, and gently pat dry. Avoid any cleansers containing acids or exfoliants.

– Avoid exercise and swimming for a week

– Make sure to apply sunscreen daily to enhance your brows longevity, as well as avoid direct sunlight for a week.

– Don’t scratch! Your eyebrows will likely be itchy and flaky but it is important to let them heal.

– Don’t panic! Your brows can appear up to 40% darker in the first few days of the healing process. Be patient, within a week the ink will fade into a more natural shade.

– Clients are encouraged to schedule a follow-up appointment for 4-6 weeks time to any touch-ups that need to be made.

Feature image: Unsplash

Across the world, people are working from home and self-quarantining amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After clocking out of your imaginary office, you’ve probably got a lot of time on your hands. Now seems like the perfect time to do your wedding research.

Whether or not you’re getting married, these films are sure to inspire you as well as show you what NOT to do in the lead-up to your big day.

The Wedding Planner

Jennifer Lopez plays Mary Fiore, San Francisco’s most successful wedding planner. However, she breaks a crucial rule when she falls for one of the grooms, played by Matthew McConaughey. This movie offers early 2000s romcom at its finest.

Father of the Bride

In this heartwarming tale, a father, played by Steve Martin, struggles to come to terms with the fact his eldest daughter is getting married. This film gives great insight into how parents feel when their children take this big step.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

When Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) finds out her best friend Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) plans to marry in a few days, she realises she is actually in love with him and sets off to get the wedding cancelled. Many hijinks and a famous musical scene that catapaulted the song “I Say a Little Prayer (For You)” can be expected.

The Wedding Singer

This 1998 romantic comedy tells the story of wedding singer Robbie (Adam Sandler) and waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore), both of whom are engaged to other people. When Robbie’s fiance breaks things off, Julia helps him find happiness again and they begin to fall for one another. This is just one of many classic Sandler / Barrymore films that has gone down in history.

Bridesmaids

An all-star cast of funny women leaves us with a laugh-a-minute movie. The movie follows Annie, played by Kristen Wiig, who begins unravelling when she becomes maid of honour to best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). The limit does not exist for quotable moments in this film.

Runaway Bride

New York columnist Ike, played by Richard Gere, is assigned to write an article about Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts), a woman who has a history of leaving fiance’s at the altar on their wedding day and thus earning her the nickname ‘The Runaway Bride”. As she prepares to walk down the aisle again, Ike and Maggie grow closer, threatening history to repeat itself once more.

Monster-in-Law

Everthing is plain sailing for Charlie (Jennifer Lopez) and Kevin (Michael Vartan), who quickly fall in love and get engaged, until Charlie meets Kevin’s mother Viola (Jane Fonda), who is determined to keep her son all to herself. After watching this movie, we hope you’ll feel a lot more grateful for your own mother-in-law.

Sweet Home Alabama

When New York-based up-and-coming fashion designer Melanie Carmichael (Reece Witherspoon) becomes engaged to famed politician’s son Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey), she is forced to return to her secret Southern roots to divorce her first husband Jake, who refuses to sign the papers.

Feature image: Unsplash

Colour is great, but sometimes you just want to keep it simple. If you’ve got a more classic style, going with a black and white colour scheme will appeal to all your senses.

Easy to pair and oh so glamorous, black and white wedding decor screams style and sophistication. Here are some styling ideas for your own big day.

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Feature image: Unsplash

Calling off a wedding is tremendously stressful. The emotional toll alone is enough to justify this claim. So we hope that you will never need to know how to go about it. However, with the spread of coronavirus, many couples are deciding that cancelling the wedding is the best way to go.

If you decide that you’re cancelling, instead of postponing, you have to consider how many people that will affect. Vendors, guests, family and so on will all be affected by this change of plan. Of course, the wedding is and has always been about you, but these people have made arrangements for you and it’s best to keep this in mind while going about the cancellation process.

Here’s how you should handle it:

– Check your insurance 

If you have wedding insurance, your insurer should be the first call you make. Financially, this will help a lot.

– Cancellation policies

First and foremost, you should reread all contracts with each vendor. This will give you an idea of where you stand. In most cases, deposits are non-refundable, however you may be able to get some money back. Suppliers generally try to be accommodating, depending on timing and circumstances of course.

– Make contact 

After you’ve gone through the contracts, inform all your vendors and suppliers that the wedding has been cancelled. Suppliers online have claimed that some couples essentially just ghost. This is not acceptable. Apart from this being disrespectful, it also affects the livelihoods of vendors.

– Guests

Let your guests know. Be sure to prioritise those who are travelling long distances to be at your wedding, so that they have time to cancel their flights and possibly get a refund. People have spent money to ensure they’re present on your special day, don’t forget that.

Don’t forget to let you bridal party know too! (And thank them for anything they’ve done thus far)

– Be honest

It’s always best to keep things simple and just be upfront about the circumstances. This goes for every conversation you’ll have about your wedding cancellation, but especially in conversations with your vendors. People appreciate honesty.

– Be quick 

We know its a tough time, and you’re probably very disappointed, but acting quickly will benefit you in the end. It increases the likelihood of getting money back and will place less strain on guests and vendors.

 

Image: Unsplash

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

As the outbreak of coronavirus gets more and more serious, governments across the world have urged people to practice social distancing. We all know by now that with social distancing comes a lot, if not all, evenings spent indoors.

This has affected date nights everywhere. Oh, the horror! No more movie theatres, bars, restaurants, or any activity that causes a large amount of people to gather in one place at one time.

We’re sure there are a few rebellious souls out there, risking infection for an evening on the town. However, for those of us who prefer living life far away from the edge, safely in quarantine, date nights don’t have to be boring either.

Here are some quarantine date ideas:

– Netflix (with or without the chill) 

This one works for those of you who are fully committing to self-isolation. You don’t even have to be in the same room. All you need is two separate Netflix accounts.

Add the Chrome extension called “Netflix Party” to your browser. Click on your date night movie, then click on the extension icon that should have appeared on your browser tab. You’ll see a chat bar appear on the side of the screen. Send a link, which is provided by the extension, to your date. There you have it – Netflix date night from separate houses!

– Cook together 

There’s nothing more romantic than cooking together. Get your hands dirty in the kitchen with a recipe you’ve never tried before or better yet, have a cooking competition! Limit yourselves to only what’s in the cupboards presently (since we’re limiting our trips to stores anyway) and cook a dish each. After, you can have a tasting and decide that in the end you’re both winners since you have the prize of each others’ company.

– Couples at home spa

Head to Pinterest for some great DIY face masks, hair treatments and the like. Spend the evening pampering yourselves and relaxing as you take advantage of the extra down time quarantine has provided.

– Picnic 

Who says you need a park for a picnic? If you have a garden or a yard, lay a blanket out and get picnicking! Alternatively, for those without a grass patch at their disposal, have a picnic on the floor in your home. All you really need is the right energy. Light some candles, lay out a snack-spread, play some music and you’re good to go.

– Games night

There are plenty of two person games out there. Card games, board games, jenga, don’t limit yourself. Unleash your playful side with those games that have been gathering dust in your closet.

– Make plans 

For the extrovert out there who can’t wait for the self-isolation to end, spend an evening making a bucket list. Plan all the things you want to do together as soon as the quarantine ends…and commit to doing them! No bailing out once the time comes.

Don’t forget, being in quarantine doesn’t mean you get to skip your shower! Happy date night!

Featue image: Unsplash

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in countries getting locked down and many others placing restrictions on gatherings. Unfortunately this means many weddings have to be cancelled. If you’re considering cancelling your wedding, why not live stream the service instead?

Previously, live streaming was used at weddings for relatives who couldn’t make it but wanted to be part of the ceremony all the same. Here is how you can adapt your wedding for these quarantined times.

-Decide what to live stream 

It is considered best practice to only live stream the ceremony as the reception is not as important or interesting to those who aren’t there. This especially applies if you are going to have very few people in attendance so keep the camera rolling until the end of the I do’s only.

-Where should I live stream? 

There are many options when it comes to a live stream. While social media channels offer this as an option, it might be easier to use an “open” platform that anyone can click onto rather than needing a specific account. This means that with a little help Granny and Grandpa can watch too!

A great option is creating a YouTube channel for your wedding and making it private. You can send the link of the channel to your guests via email or WhatsApp specifying the time you will begin the ceremony so they know when to be ready to watch.

– How should I set up the live stream? 

To live stream you will need either a computer with a webcam or a mobile with the YouTube app, whichever you choose will need an internet connection.

A good idea would be sourcing a smartphone with a decent camera and a tripod that you can fix it to, preferably with a charging connection. This means you won’t need someone to hold the camera, thus avoiding the handshakes.

-Tech maid of honour 

While you are trying to keep the number of people in the room down, it would be beneficial to have a designated person who can keep an eye on the live stream and make sure nothing goes wrong. They could also be put in charge of setting it up so you don’t have to worry about it.

-Check with your venue

If you are going to live stream at the venue you originally planned, with a downscaled guest list, confirm that you will be allowed to live stream as some venues have specific rules with regards to their space.

 

Image: Unsplash

Some may think it’s better for a celebrity to marry another celebrity. They understand each others lifestyles and schedules, right? But some celebrities beg to differ, and others are doing a great job at proving that theory wrong.

Here are eight celebrities who made it official with people who are not famous:

1. George Clooney 

Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor finally let go of the single life when he met his now-wife Amal Alamuddin, an international human rights lawyer. The pair met through a friend in 2013 and tied the knot only a year later!

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2. Zoe Saldana

The “Gardians of the Galaxy” actress married Marco Perego, a former professional soccer play, in 2013. Fun fact about this couple: Marco Perego actually took Saldana’s surname after they married!

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3. Matt Damon 

The actor is married to Luciana Barroso. They met in 2003, while Barroso was bartending and Damon was filming “Stuck on You”.

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4. Adele

It is unclear when the pair met, but the ‘Someone like You’ songstress and charity CEO Simon Konecki were spotted on holiday in Florida in 2012. Adele confirmed their marriage in 2o17 after keeping their relationship private for a long while. Unfortunately, the couple have since divorced.

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5. Snoop Dogg 

The rapper met his wife, Shante Broadus, in 1997. While the pair have faced some ups and downs, they have remained together for over 20 years.

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6. Gal Gadot

The “Wonder Women” actress married Yaron Versano, a real estate developer, in 2008. Apparently the pair met at a “very strange” party in the desert.

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7. Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon began her relationship with talent agent Jim Toth in 2010. They married in March 2011.

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8. Aaron Paul 

Paul met now-wife Lauren Parsekian, an activist and co-founder of Kind Campaign, at the popular Coachella music festival. They two married in 2013.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8FNWrknFuK/

Also read: Celebrities who got married at City Hall 

Also read: Six of the shortest celebrity marriages

Image:  Instagram / George Clooney News