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    The wedding exit is a special moment as newlyweds step out for the first time as a married couple. Traditionally, excited guests line the steps and hurl handfuls of uncooked rice at the couple on their way.

    The rice toss tradition is an interesting yet strange one that can be dated back to the Ancient Romans. Here’s how it started and evolved over time.

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    The origin:

    In Ancient Roman times, marriage was symbolic of expansion, both in terms of starting a family and growing one’s assets. Because of its affordability and easy availability, rice was used to usher newlyweds into their marriage and encourage both fertility and prosperity. The rice is meant to resemble rain, which is also a positive symbol on a wedding day. Romans also used wheat and oats as alternatives.

    The tradition began losing popularity after a rumour grew that birds would eat the rice once the wedding was over and their stomachs would explode from it. In the US, state legislation banned the tradition entirely in 1985 to protect unsuspecting birds. However, this theory has since been proven false, the rice doesn’t actually expand in a bird’s stomach and cause them to explode.

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    Modern times:

    Nowadays, the rice toss doesn’t hold the same weight it once did as modern couples are more conscious of their surroundings. Eco-friendly, alternative options are more commonly used for the perfect exit moment.

    If you’d still like to have a rice toss but in a way that’s kinder on the environment, consider using items like dried petals, fresh leaves, or eco-friendly confetti made of growing paper.

    Source: Pinterest
    Source: Pinterest
    Source: Pinterest
    Source: Pinterest

    Feature image: Pexels

    There has been a reported increase in divorce applications and interest since lockdown came into effect in South Africa. The reasons behind the choice, however, are varied.

    New stats reveal that South Africa is ranked at number 83 out of 154 countries in the world for its divorce rates. Local law firm DIY Legal says they have seen a 20% increase in divorce applications since level 4 lockdown was instated as the courts reopened for the service. The firm took a deeper look at these concerning stats to understand the reason behind it.

    According to DIY Legal, there are many reasons South Africans cite as the basis for wanting a divorce. 16% of respondents said their choice was down to a lack of love, respect or affection from their partner.

    Brendan McNulty, founder of DIY Legal, explains additional stressors like unemployment, financial strain and being stuck at home all day also contribute to these statistics.

    It is important to note that an increase in divorce rate is currently being experienced worldwide, South Africa is not unique in this regard. There are various reports relaying a surge in divorce applications in China. National media has reported that marriage registration offices in some districts in Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, have experienced unprecedented divorce appointments since their reopening on March 1.

    “As a result of the epidemic, many couples have been bound with each other at home for over a month, which evoked the underlying conflicts, adding that the office had been closed for a month, therefore the office has seen an acutely increasing divorce appointment,” an official from the registration office told reporters. “Usually the office would see a wave of divorcement after Spring Festival and the college entrance examination.”

    Saudia Arabia has seen a 30% increase in divorce applications, and in Britain the divorce rate increased by 42% between late March and mid-May.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    A wedding photoshoot should be magical, as you capture yourselves looking your best, feeling your best, and deeply in love on your most special day. An unexpected dip in the ocean, however, may turn things upside down a bit.

    A newly-wed couple took to Laguna’s Treasure Island Beach in California for their wedding photoshoot. Things were going well, until they were unexpectedly hit by a wave and pulled out into the water.

    Luckily, an onlooker witnessed the entire incident from a lookout close to a hotel by the beach, and alerted authorities, who rushed out to help the couple. Several lifeguards made their way into the water, and rescued the bride and groom.

    According to abc7, both the bride and groom had no serious injuries.

    In a video captured by an onlooker, the couple can be seen going about their business until a wave hits them. Thereafter, the video cuts to the couple being rescued from the ocean.

    See it happen here:

    Image: Screenshot from video

    Since the nationwide lockdown is not yet over, and many romantic spots remain unsafe to visit, your big proposal plans may feel ruined. However, they don’t have to be. Proposing at home can be just as amazing.

    An at-home proposal comes with an added feeling of intimacy and closeness. You and your partner can cherish the beautiful moment, in each other’s company, without any external disturbances. It could be truly magical.

    So whether you’re planning an at-home proposal due to the lockdown, or if you’re just home-bodies, you need not worry. It will still be the most special experience.

    For those looking for ways to pop the big question at home, here are some ideas:

    – Dream Holiday At Home 

    Since the shops are mostly open, you’ll be able to go out and get a few decorations. Think of a holiday you’ve always wanted to take with your partner, then recreate it at home. Maybe make a cardboard cutout of the Eiffel Tower or create mini hot air balloons like to reflect the ones that float around in Cappadocia.

    Try to incorporate the theme into your food choices too. It’ll make the entire occasion feel extremely well planned out.

    Once it’s all set up and you’re having a great time, find the perfect moment and pop the question!

    – Memory Movie 

    Collect all your favourite photos, videos, Instagrams, and Facebook posts, and put them all together in a slideshow. Choose a romantic song to play in the background, and your movie is sorted!

    Lay out some blankets, light a few candles, and take a stroll down memory lane together. Once you’re done reliving your love story thus far, you’ll be ready to begin the next chapter by asking your partner to marry you.

    – Games Night 

    If you and your partner are the types of people who love a good games night (who isn’t, right?), then this is the perfect idea for you.

    Suggest to your significant other that you’d like to have a two-person games night, and play games like trivia, Pictionary, or any other game where your partner would have to guess your actions, or drawings.

    Once you’re both into the flow of the game, sneak in “will you marry me?” as one of the questions. It’ll be a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

    – Breakfast in Bed 

    If you’d like to keep it simple, try this. While your partner is still asleep, get up and prepare the perfect breakfast. We’re talking eggs, toast, pancakes, strawberries, the works. Add the ring somewhere on the tray, and your plan is complete!

    If you’re feeling confident, you could take a slightly different route. Before they wake up, slip the ring on their finger. Wake them up to the most perfect breakfast in bed, and calmly ask “what’s that on your finger?” as you point to the ring. Once they look at their hand, you can get down on one knee and take it from there.

    – Special Scavenger Hunt

    Leave the very first clue somewhere obvious, where your partner goes often, perhaps next to the kettle in the kitchen, or on their laptop keyboard. Say something like “go to the place where you told me not to leave a mess”, make it something silly and personal.

    Each clue should draw your partner closer and closer to where you’ve hidden the ring. Once they find it, be behind them on one knee.

    Image: Unsplash

    Weddings have largely been banned across the world in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, some countries have loosened restrictions and some citizens have not followed restrictions regarding weddings. In India, this has proven to be a mistake.

    A wedding which took place in the Patna District of Bihar, a state in India, effectively started a COVID-19 chain, as 113 people tested positive and the groom passed away. It has been reported that this was the largest chain of infection in the state thus far.

    The wedding took place on June 15. At the time, the 30-year-old groom had a high fever. Two days later, on June 17, he passed away and was cremated without receiving a COVID-19 test.

    Subsequently, more than 360 people from surrounding towns were tested as part of contact-tracing efforts, and testers were still trying to get a hold of additional possible carriers of the virus, according to Health Department officials in the area. The bride, however, had not tested positive.

    Some of the groom’s relatives were infected at the wedding, and fifteen of these guests are believed to have spread the virus to others who were not in attendance. According to the Indian Express, most of those who tested positive were asymptomatic and were admitted to isolation centres.

    The entire region where the wedding took place (Paliganj sub-division of Patna) was then declared a containment zone and sealed. A special camp was also set up at the village from June 24 – 26 so that people could easily be tested. At the camp, 86 more people tested positive, according to Hindustan Times.

    According to a relative of the groom, the wedding was not cancelled for fear of monetary loss, despite the fact that the grom knew he was not well. “Even though he was feeling unwell by June 14 and wanted the wedding deferred, family heads from both sides advised against it, citing huge financial losses if the arrangements had to be cancelled,” said the relative.

    Apparently, nobody had considered that the man was a COVID-19 patient since rural areas had been mostly safe from the virus .” As rural areas are almost Covid-free, we were relaxed,” said the same relative.

    NDTV reported that the restrictions in the state say that no more than 50 people are allowed to be in attendance of a wedding. At this particular wedding, there were approximately 350 guests. Thus, the district magistrate ordered an investigation into those attending the wedding in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

    Image: Unsplash

    After having most of their lives in the spotlight, it’s understandable that some celebrities would choose to keep an intimate occasion like their wedding a secret. Although it’s frustrating for us, their fans, because we want to know all the details, not having paparazzi around makes for a much calmer atmosphere on the big day.

    Here are just some celebrity couples who kept their nuptials hush-hush.

    Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz

     

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    Everything about these two has been kept on the down-low. First, their private wedding ceremony held at Cameron’s home in Beverly Hills in 2015 and then their baby, who most of the world only found out about when she was born this year.

    Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley

     

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    Many fans might not even know that Margot Robbie is married so this might even be a surprise in itself. The actress married Tom Ackerley in a very secret ceremony in Australia in 2015. Only 50 guests were invited and weren’t even told the location of the wedding before the event.

    Beyonce and Jay-Z

     

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    Despite being possibly the most famous and beloved couple (except for that short moment where Jay was hated by the Beyhive after Lemonade was released), these two have always been very private and not showy about their relationship. The two got married in a secret ceremony in New York in 2008, with footage only being released slowly over the years since then (including in the above mentioned visual album).

    Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher

     

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    This one might be the best kept secret wedding in Hollywood history as there aren’t any details about it even after the fact. The That 70s show co-stars got married without so much as an anniversary Instagram picture to show it happened. The world only found out when Mila wore her wedding ring too when she appeared on The Late Late Show With James Corden.
    Leighton Meester and Adam Brody

     

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    Another couple on the list you might be shocked to find out are even together. These two teen drama stars got married in 2014 in a secret ceremony.
    Ellen Page and Emma Portner 

     

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    The world only found out about this marriage after the fact when Ellen posted about her new wife on Instagram. The details are still unknown.

    Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

     

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    Besides the fact that they were married in 2012 and in South Carolina, there is little information on the marriage of possibly the two most beautiful people currently married in Hollywood. This might be disappointing but at least we get to see their pranks and hear these two lovebirds gush about each other in interviews.

    Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem

     

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    These two have been together for ages but very little is known about their relationship at all and especially about their secret 2010 wedding in the Bahamas.

    Alexis Bledel and Vincent Kartheiser

     

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    Another couple you might not have even known were together. The Gilmore Girls star married the Mad Men actor in 2014 after a year-long engagement but little else is known about the ceremony.

    Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadowski

     

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    There is just something about the Late Late Show with James Corden which makes even the most secretive celebrities want to spill the beans. Amanda and Thomas got married in an incredibly private ceremony, with just themselves and their dog in 2016. Thomas revealed the marriage on the show in 2017, saying the couple eloped.

    Image: MargotRobbie/Instagram

    Wedding gowns come in endless variations. We especially love open-back designs for its classy, sultry look. If you like this style, try on a few different ones to see how it looks on you, what portion of your back you want to be exposed, and how much skin you want to show.

    Remember that different dress styles fit different body shapes in different ways, so talk to your designer or stylist about what flatters you most.

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    Feature image: Pexels

     

    Is breakfast your favourite meal of the day? Bring in your love for the important morning meal into your wedding!

    There are a number of ways you can honour breakfast on your big day. Here are some ideas to try.

    Have a breakfast wedding:

    We’re all familiar with dreamy afternoon weddings that celebrate late into the evening. While this can be a beautiful and more traditional approach, there’s something simply magical about a breakfast wedding. They’re more budget-friendly, offer more flexible timing, and provide a wide variety of foods to serve.

    If you’re having a breakfast wedding, it makes sense to offer bars tailored to specific foods. From a coffee or juice bar to a hot breakfast buffet, the options are endless (and delicious!).

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    Get punny:

    There are so many egg-cellent food puns you can use in your big day. Here are a few of our favourites.

    Source: Pinterest
    Source: Pinterest
    Source: Pinterest
    Fruity fancies:

    Fruits work as amazing breakfast sides and decor. Use aromatic delights like oranges, lemons and grapefruit to add a pop of colour to your big day and get the room smelling like a tropical vacation.

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    Sweet treats:

    For your wedding cake, you have two options. You could go literal by using popular breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles as alternative cakes, or infuse flavours you commonly associate with breakfast into the cake. You could do a coffee cake or a cinnamon cake or even incorporate your favourite fruits like oranges, blueberries and banana into the decor.

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    Feature image: Unsplash

    Childhood sweethearts Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have officially been married for three years.

    The Argentinian sports star and the model tied the knot in 2017 in a star-studded ceremony. The event took place in Messi’s home town Rosario outside of Beunos Aires, and has been called Argentina’s ‘wedding of the century’. Just a few names on the guest list include football stars Neymar, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué, as well as international superstar Shakira.

    Taking to Instagram, Roccuzzo shared a romantic video flashback to their big day to honour their wedding anniversary. Her caption, written in Spanish, translates to: “I will love you and you will love me, I love you and it’s my only truth And it is our great love, What will never die … ” Happy 3rd anniversary my love. I love you.”

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    The pair have known each other since they were children. They met when Messi was five-years-old and Rccuzzo four. They were introduced to one another by Messi’s best friend and fellow footballer Lucas Scaglia, who is Roccuzzo’s cousin.

    The pair remained friends and stayed in touch when Messi left Argentina for Spain to play soccer at the age of 13. They began dating in the late 2000s. The pair now live in Barcelona and have two sons.

    Feature image: Instagram / Antonela Roccuzo

    When we think of 80s fashion, cheesy is one word that comes to mind. The popular style of the decade involved tons of primary colour, oversized shapes and lots of lace.

    While some may not look fondly on the fashion of the time, fusing retro style elements into modern style is very on trend right now. Popular style icons are influenced by iconic trends from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, and these can be seen from the catwalk to the streets, as well as bridal styles.

    Typical 80s trends like puffed sleeves, full skirts, lace detailing and sparkling applique dominated the day. Here are a few ways to incorporate the 80s into your wedding dress in a modern way.

    Drama on the shoulder:

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    Flouncy, flouncy:

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    Devil in the detail:

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    Feature image: Unsplash