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A young Indian couple has received mounting backlash after posting an intimate post-wedding photoshoot that has since gone viral on social media.

Couple Lekshmi and Hrushi Karthik tied the knot in September, and wanted a memorable photoshoot to make up for their downscaled wedding ceremony in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the images, they can be seen laughing, hugging and chasing after each other in a tea plantation, while covered in white silk comforters borrowed from their hotel room. Hrushi’s photographer friend Akhil Karthikeyan was enlisted to be behind the camera, reports the BBC.

 

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“It was great fun. We laughed through it. We were really excited about it. It was a part of our honeymoon, we were just married and we felt free,” Hrushi told the BBC.

Just a few days later, Akhil uploaded the images onto Facebook and was shocked at the amount of hate the images received. Most of the abuse was directed at Lekshmi.

“We received two days of relentless hate,” Lekshmi explained. “People said we were showing nudity, they asked if we were wearing clothes underneath, they said we were doing it for attention and seeking publicity.”

“It was really awful for me. They were harassing me much more than him. They were telling me to act in porn films, I was body shamed,” she says. “The trolls included a lot of women too. They found my earlier photos where I was wearing no makeup and began comparing, saying look how ugly she looks in these photos.”

However, there were those publicly supporting the couple. Many advised them to ignore the haters.

Unfortunately, their family was not in full support of the images. Many asked them to remove the images and even removed the couples from family WhatsApp groups for refusing. The pair told the BBC they refuse to take the images down, as that would mean they are giving in to their bullies.

“If we do, they will take it as admission of our guilt, that we did something wrong,” says Lekshmi. “But we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Picture: Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the wedding world upside down. From the guestlist to the fashion, it seems like everything has changed in 2020.

Many modern couples are hosting micro weddings in 2020, and hope to have bigger affairs later on when it is safe to do so. Smaller-scale celebrations call for less dramatic gowns.

We’ve seen quite a few pandemic brides opting aginst the traditional ballgown-length look in favour of a minidress or jumpsuit. Oscar de la Renta even showcased a bridal minidress in his 2021 bridal collection, meaning this look is right on trend.

Just because you’re wearing a minidress, does not mean it has to be simple. Go big with statement shoulders and dramatic detailing, or incorporate fun fabrics to add edge to your look.

Here are a few dresses to inspire you:

 

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Making your first entrance as a married couple at your wedding reception is a big deal, and you need the perfect soundtrack to back it up.

The song you choose to punctuate your steps will set the tone for the rest of the evening. What kind of story do you want to tell? It’s important to pick something that is true to you and your partner. The best thing to do is to match the song to your personality.

Whether you make your debut as a married couple to an upbeat song or a tear-jerker, there is no right or wrong answer. There is a wealth of options to choose from, here are a few of the top tracks people have been loving.

  1. Linger – The Cranberries
  2. Best Part – Daniel Caesar
  3. Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
  4. You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall and Oates
  5. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe – Barry White
  6. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
  7. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) -Whitney Houston
  8. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gay and Tammi Terrell
  9. All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
  10. Best Day of My Life – American Authors
  11. Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
  12. Raise Your Glass – P!nk
  13. What I Like About You – The Romantics
  14. Riptide – Vance Joy
  15. On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
  16. Lucky – Chelsea Cutler
  17. Cheerleader – Omi
  18. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
  19. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
  20. Cake by the Ocean – DNCE
  21. This Is What You Came For – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
  22. How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
  23. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
  24. We Belong – Pat Benatar
  25. Waiting For A Girl Like You – Foreigner
  26. I.F.L.Y – Bazzi
  27. You’re The One That I Want – The Grease soundtrack
  28. Beyond – Leon Bridges
  29. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
  30. I Wanna Have Your Babies – Natasha Bedingfield
  31. Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
  32. Stuck With You – Ariana Grande feat. Justin Bieber
  33. Dangerously In Love – Destiny’s Child
  34. We’ve Only Just Begun – The Carpenters
  35. Marry You – Bruno Mars
  36. My Girl – The Temptations
  37. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
  38. It’s Tricky – Run DMC
  39. We Are Family – Sister Sledge
  40. What I Like About You – The Romantics
  41. Let’s Hear It for the Boy – Deniece Williams
  42. T.N.T. – AC/DC
  43. You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
  44. Dear Future Husband -Meghan Trainor
  45. Get Your Number – Mariah Carey
  46. Stuck On You – Lionel Richie
  47. Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
  48. This Is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
  49. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
  50. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z

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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

Scarlett Johansson is a married woman! The Academy Award-nominated actress has tied the knot with Saturday Night Live (SNL) writer and comedian Colin Jost in a low-key ceremony.

Their big news was announced by Meals on Wheels, a US-based charity for elderly people.

“We’re thrilled to break the news that Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost were married over the weekend in an intimate ceremony with their immediate family and loved ones, following COVID-19 safety precautions as directed by the CDC,” Meals on Wheels wrote on Instagram

“Their wedding wish is to help make a difference for vulnerable older adults during this difficult time by supporting @mealsonwheelsamerica. Please consider donating to celebrate the happy couple by clicking the link in our bio.”

 

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Johansson and Jost met when the actress made a guest appearance on an SNL season finale, and soon began dating in 2017. In 2019, the highly private couple announced their engagement.

This is the third marriage for Johansson. She was previously married to actor Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011, and journalist Romain Dauriac from 2014 to 2017, with whom she shares a child. It is the first marriage for Jost.

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Modern brides are loving the bridal jumpsuit. Comfortable yet chic, it has become a fan favourite over the years for those wanting something different.

This year has been anything but normal for the wedding world, so it makes sense that one of the most popular bridal outfits is not a dress at all. Pandemic brides have been obsessed with a specific bridal jumpsuit that has taken over Instagram.

Designed by French bridal genius Rime Arodaky, the Patsy jumpsuit has become the most in-demand bridal look of the year.

 

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Patsy features a fitted white bodice and trousers under sheer sleeves and a train that combines elegance with edgy detail. Its the greatest asset is its versatility, as it works in a number of settings. From a courthouse to a garden wedding or even an engagement party, this bridal look will turn heads.

 

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Simply pair with block heels, and style your hair in loose waves or a chic updo with some loose tendrils to complete the ‘cool girl’ aesthetic.

 

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Geodes are having a major moment in the wedding world. The geologial formations are colourful and distinctive, adding a fun edge to your big day.

Geodes (derived from the Greek word “γεώδης” meaning “Earth-like”) are geological secondary formations within sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Geodes are hollow, vaguely spherical rocks, in which masses of mineral matter (which may include crystals) are secluded.

With their shimmering interior and marbled appearance, geodes are mesmerising to look at. They make for perfect wedding decor, and are versatile so they can be used in a variety of ways. From tiny escort cards to table numbers and even as cake inspiration, this is one rocking finish.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Invitations

 

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Decor

 

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Cake

 

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After getting engaged, you already know that the next step is getting married and that includes the wedding and its planning. Your date can be chosen based on a number of things like a season, a location, family members, or a special date. However, if you have always dreamt of a specific destination or venue, then your wedding date might depend on the availability of the place.

Specific special dates

Many wedding dates are related to a special day, like each other’s birthday, the day that you met, your favourite restaurant, or the day you got engaged. When you want a specific date, start planning as soon as possible and call venues and vendors you want to hire. Most wedding venues can be booked a year in advance.  You will have peace of mind knowing that you have secured the venue but you need to have a plan B just in case something unforeseen happens.

Choose the season

Start by thinking about your favourite times of the year. Is there is a month or season that you would like to get married in? It is also very important to understand that the time of the year can affect your venue, wedding colours, and theme. Consider the weather, holidays, and commitments you have each month before you choose to host the wedding then.

Indoors or outdoors

When you are going to choose to have a wedding outdoors it is important to consider the season because as a person, you don’t know what the weather will look like. For the bride, think about the type of gown that would be comfortable for the venue, a short-sleeved gown will probably not work for a beach wedding in winter. Research the weather conditions in the location you are planning on getting married in and ask your wedding planner.

Think budget

There are months that are cheaper than others, people buy winter clothes in summer and vice versa. If you are working with a budget then this might be the idea you take and run with. April, September, and December are some of the most popular marriage months, so prices are inevitably higher. You will most like to pay high prices for everything, from venues to decor. Pick an off-peak month, where you’re more likely to get discounted prices and a better selection of venues.

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An American woman named Cassey joined Dr Phil on his talk show to talk about her determination to find “the one”, even after being married a whopping 10 times already. She went to the show to seek advice on what she could be doing wrong for her relationships to not be working out.

Her longest marriage was eight years and her shortest one was six months before they divorced. Her second marriage lasted for a  period of seven years, and they share a son. They were engaged for two and a half years but the cracks appeared after they got married. Casey believes that her husband stopped loving her as he had stopped saying it.

According to Cassey, she is usually the one to end the marriage by saying she cannot take it anymore. She has cheated in a relationship, but only after her partner cheated first, she claims.

This woman is so determined to find Mr Right that she says she doesn’t care how many husbands it takes. The 56-year-old successful businesswoman is currently married but the marriage is almost over. Cassey says that this has gotten to the point where she is either going to laugh or cry about it and sometimes she does both.

Cassey said she’s likely to call it quits with her current husband, who she claims labelled her a “control freak.” Even if the marriage ends, she is still determined to find her true love and settle down.

Watch the interview here:

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A number of amendments have been made to existing marriage laws in South Africa in recent months. These changes were meant to have been implemented earlier in the year but were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown.

The Department of Home Affairs said in a presentation to parliament that they plan to introduce new policy changes that will update South Africa’s marriage laws. The policy will be drafted for public comment before the end of the 2020/2021 financial year, which will be by March 31, 2021.

The changes are all based on constitutional values and modern social dynamics, the department explained in May.

“Despite all the changes that have been made in the marriage legislation post-1994, there are still serious gaps in the current legislation. For instance, the current legislation does not regulate some religious marriages such as the Hindu, Muslim, and other customary marriages that are practised in some African or royal families,” the department said.

“Given the diversity of the South Africa population, it is virtually impossible to pass legislation governing every single religious or cultural marriage practice. It is against this background that the DHA is embarking in the process of developing a marriage policy that will lay a policy foundation for drafting a new single or omnibus legislation.”

The key updates introduced in the new policy include:

– The new Marriage Act will allow South Africans of different sexual orientations, religious and cultural persuasions to legally marry.

– New rules on the age of marriage

– Changes in marriage, matrimonial property, and divorce legislation

– solemnisation and registration of marriages that involve foreign nationals

– solemnisation and registration of customary marriages that involve non-citizens especially cross-border communities or citizens of neighbouring countries

Most recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Civil Amendment Act of 2020, making it illegal for state marriage officers and magistrates to refuse to solemnise a civil union between same-sex couples.

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