It’s so incredibly sad to know that such a loving man wasn’t able to transcend this terrible disease.  Earlier this year Dr. Pausch recovered from heart and kidney failure and for awhile it looked he might be able to beat the odds.  You could tell that he had so much more to offer his family and so much more living to do.  The kindness he shares in the last lecture to his students and the love he had for his family was evident.

I always tell couples to make sure that you marry the right one, whatever that means for you.  You don’t have to take whatever comes down the pike simply because you think that nothing else better will come along.  The Pausch family had no idea that their patriarch would get this disease and leave them early, but they happened to live life to the fullest anyway. 

So, as you’re working on your wedding plans today, maybe take some time to think about the relationship you have with your future spouse.  Is he or she the right one?  Can you imagine a life full of love and happiness with this person or do have any doubts?  Does this person love you unconditionally and accept you the way you are?  Or, do they criticize you and tear you down with “helpful suggestions” and backhanded insults? 

There is no substitute for marrying someone who supports you and loves you with no reservations.

Have a great one!

Alison
WeddingChicago.com

The Maplewood Hotel is not your typical Bed & Breakfast inn.  This boutique hotel is located right in the heart of downtown Saugatuck and has a kind and helpful staff that will cater to your every whim.  Upon our very late arrival in the dead of winter, they gave us a bottle of wine from nearby winery & restaurant Tabor Hill, so that we could relax in peace after a long drive from the city.  The wine was so good we made sure to stop at Tabor Hill on our way back to Chicago.

The hotel has large-sized rooms and suites available, some of which come equipped with a jacuzzi tub for two.  In the summer, you’ll be able to lounge around a small pool in case you don’t feel like wandering over to the white sands of Oval Beach.  You’ll also find a few nooks and crannies in which to read a book or write in your journal about the amazing life you’re going to have with your spouse-to-be.

The best part about the Maplewood Hotel is that you can dine on a delicious breakfast every morning in the privacy of your own individual table.  Most B & B’s that I have visited have only one long table in their dining room for all of their guests, which encourages random small talk with strangers over breakfast.  I don’t have a problem with meeting with new people, but it’s always nice to have quiet time with your partner and enjoy a romantic breakfast for two.

Maplewood Hotel is a reasonably priced vacation spot only 1.5 hours away from downtown Chicago.  The inn has last minute deals and specials throughout the year, so if you have a need a break from wedding planning, you might want to give the Maplewood Hotel a call. 

Find out more information from:  www.MaplewoodHotel.com
Call:  (269) 857-1771

Have a great one!

Alison
WeddingChicago.com

One couple in their golden years got married for the health insurance but maintained a platonic relationship.  She referred to her husband as her best friend but explained that this was an arrangement to get her covered through his job.  Another couple had lived together for thirty years and decided to tie the knot in order to save on the premiums.  The couple’s relationship would have been considered a common law marriage, but they could not receive the same benefits as same-sex domestic partners.

I’ve never heard of anything like this before.  Usually couples are so concerned about their guest list and the money that they have to spend in order to create the wedding of their dreams within their budget.  I don’t know how I’d feel having strangers celebrate our special day, but I always enjoy participating in baptisms at church.  I rarely know the families but I’m so happy to witness such a special occasion.

I don’t think I’d like to crash a stranger’s wedding, even though it’s an excuse to have a good time at someone else’s expense.  But, if it works for the couple, that’s the most important thing.

Have a great one!

Alison
WeddingChicago.com

On occasion I’ll run into a dictator-like photographer who orders the family around during the post-ceremony pictures without a hint of kindness in his or her voice.  I know it’s shocking to hear, but there is a way to rally people without being disrespectful.

I remember watching a little girl shrink beside her mother after the photographer snapped at her for not standing still.  I know that wedding photography and videography are both very stressful jobs because you have to catch the moments as they come.  There’s no “take two”.  You can’t interrupt the ceremony just to get the shot.  However, photographers and videographers need to remember that it’s a very special and emotional day for many people and guests aren’t really thinking clearly.  Kindness and compassion go a long way.

A colleague of mine just participated in a wedding downtown with over 150 guests.  He told me that the bride was trying different spots around the location in order to get better shots with her family and friends.  The photographer actually told her, “We do things my way before we do things your way.” Who’s paying the bill again?

I love it when good things happen to people that have survived a bevy of challenges.  We don’t know their financial position or if they even needed the money, but it doesn’t matter.  They won and at least they’ll get the wedding of their dreams as a result.

Have a great one!

Alison
Wedding Chicago

I’m not sure if their shoes will be on sale, but feel free to give them a call to find out.  You can reach them at:  (773) 929-7422 or you can check out their website at:  www.LeftBankJewelry.com

Have a great one!

Alison
Wedding Chicago

These types of financial misdeeds can happen anywhere at anytime.  As I blogged about a few years ago, the bridal supplier Discount Bridal Service went out of business abruptly leaving brides up a river with no paddle.  The company went into bankruptcy in 2005 after taking the deposits from hundreds of brides around the country without ever ordering the gowns directly from the manufacturer.  If the bride paid her deposit with a personal check, then she was out of that money.  Some manufacturers took the high road and gave the lost brides their gowns without ever receiving any financial compensation for the gesture.

Before you put any money down on a dress, research the bridal boutique online ahead of time.  Without mentioning any names, I will say that some bridal stores within the Chicagoland area have closed down abruptly without ever supplying the dresses to the brides.  Some of them received bad reviews from brides ahead of time, which would have been a warning sign to astute brides.  If you Google your bridal shop, try to gather as much feedback as you can before you make the purchase.  If the store has a number of negative reviews, you might want to re-think your decision.  You don’t want to deal with shady tactics while planning your wedding.

Also, you might want to use a credit card for the deposit.  With a credit card you have a little bit more protection in case anything does happen, but you don’t want to rack up a lot of debt on your way to the altar.

Have a great one!

Alison
Wedding Chicago

So, I caught a few episodes recently of this one crazy bride who completely acted up and acted out throughout the show.  Lisa, also known as the New Jersey bridezilla from hell, screamed at her husband-to-be, her wedding party, her family, his family, the contractor on their house and pretty much anyone within a ten mile radius.  I was horrified when she cursed out her own daughter after the teenager sprayed some type of liquid in her face while she was sleeping.  Of course, that would upset me too, but it’s not appropriate to curse out your own child.  Children learn how to behave from their parents, and this daughter acted out as much as her mom.

Later in the show, the daughter called her own mother a big bitch and pushed her mother’s finger out of her face.  This family has problems!  It’s incomprehensible to me that the daughter would do such a thing, but where did she learn that behavior in the first place?  Hello?  My mother would have snatched me into next week if I even looked like I would put my finger in her face, much less call her that disgusting word.  These people are crazy.

There is so much to write about this woman.  She was married to her fiance’ once before and decided to remarry him years later.  This time he forced her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement because he was “taken to the cleaners” the last time.  She didn’t even read the documents fully because she wanted to book her dream honeymoon to Tahiti that he promised to pay for if she signed the pre-nup.

Interfaith marriages are complicated, to say the least.  There are so many feelings on both sides and it’s hard to decide which partner should convert to the other’s religion.  Many times one half of the couple will convert to their spouse’s religion in order to keep their spiritual practices and rituals simple for their future children as they grow up. 

When people promise to convert to a religion prior to their wedding day, they may feel a certain amount of pressure to do so.  Some people will absolutely not get married to someone outside of their faith, which prompts their romantic partner to start the conversion process immediately.  One might question if they are truly converting as a result of an awakening inside of their heart or are they only doing it to marry the person they love.

This can be tricky when it comes to building a relationship built on faith, trust and respect.  If one person decides not to convert but desperately wants to marry the love of their life, will they be denied due to their religious differences?  Do we need to be that rigid in our search for a life partner?