We also have Sunday September 26th, October 24th,  and offer a $100 discount for weddings on Sundays.

We are already booking for 2011 as well.

Copyright 2009 Deborah McCoy, all rights reserved.The Census Bureau predicts that about 50% of first-time brides and grooms will divorce-so how do you avoid it? It’s easy if you put as much time and effort into planning your marriage as you do in planning your wedding.

Non-religious premarital counseling actually cuts the divorce rate for participants. and besides, it’s fun! It’s our opinion that it should be a prerequisite of marriage just like a license.Let’s face it, no matter how much you love that SO or fiancé, there are things about them that may get under your skin. And if a wedding is in your future, it means that you should have no doubts when it comes to your intended’s character or habits. Maybe one of you likes too many glasses of the bubbly, for example, or maybe one of you smokes. Maybe one wants kids, the other doesn’t. But whatever the issue, the time to resolve it is NOW! Not after the honeymoon is over or in divorce court.

PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) is the program that can help you build a strong relationship. Internationally accepted as the most comprehensive “how to” program on sustaining intimacy in relationships, you’ll learn innovative communication skills and receive the necessary tools to enable you to understand each others’ emotions. To put it bluntly: It will help you stay married.

So brides and grooms. go out there and get some non-religious premarital counseling! It prevents divorce and builds strong, lasting relationships! You’ll be so glad you did. www.PAIRS.com

Copyright 2006 AAWP, all rights reserved.

This week we’d like to ask you a two-part question:

1. If you’re hosting a wedding, what’s the most important element of the reception?

2. And if you’re a wedding guest, what impacts you the most?

The answer is simple: The music! Music can make or break the party and finding the best music within your budget should be a top priority.

A bride-to-be once emailed AAWP and said:

“Our families haven’t seen each other in ages, so we see our wedding as a chance to reunite ourselves and our families. Our reception is going to be like a big family reunion, and we’re going to play chamber music so that people can sit and chat and get to know each other again!”

Now let’s imagine that you’re one of the wedding guests who is about to sit at a table for four hours trying to make small-talk with people you don’t know-while surrounded by violins. How long do you think you’ll stay before you make an excuse to leave?

So here’s the advice we gave to our bride-to-be:

A wedding reception is a celebration, not a coffee klatch or a family reunion. Weddings are a time to have fun and celebrate! Music and dancing have always been an integral part of the festivities and today, there’s no excuse NOT to have wonderful music. DJs are affordable and a good DJ can really make a party hop!

Ask your recently married friends and relatives for referrals for good entertainment because weddings are not a time “to let your fingers do the walking.” When you find a DJ or band, etc. you like, ask for references and check them out-because music makes or breaks the party-or should we say the reception.

Happy Weddings!

2. Take only your mom and/or a trusted friend to shop with you. Make sure your friend has your same taste and it’s best that they are engaged or married because if they’re jealous, you may end up looking like the Bride of Frankenstein (if you take their advice).

CAUTION: Don’t take an entourage with you. Three to five people barking at you about the way, they think you should look on your wedding day will not make you a happy camper.

3. Try on gowns only in your price range. If you fall in love with a gown you can’t afford, you’ll be miserable!

4. When you buy a gown, get a detailed receipt with designer’s name, style number, color, and size. Make sure it contains the price, all extra charges, deposit paid, and the balance due. This receipt is your contract. If anything should go amiss, it is your only legal means of recourse.

Learn how to buy a gown like a wedding professional-with lots of insider tips-by downloading our FREE segment from AAWP’s wedding-planning course that’s located on our website. www.aa-wp.com

Happy Gown Shopping!