Tell Us About Your Wedding And We'll Reveal How Long Your Marriage Will Last
- by Kaline Forrester
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and therefore it takes lots of planning. Some people spend years planning every little detail of the day they become one with their love, and then sadly it is over in the blink of an eye. Other people keep things very simple, or even go to a courthouse to make things official. It all depends on your personality, how much money you want to spend, and your individual tastes and preferences. But one thing unites all people when it comes to marriage: we all go into it thinking it will last forever. After all, why bother marrying, at all, if you do not think it will be "until death do you part"?
As we know, far from 100% of couples last forever, although they all believe that they will in the beginning. It is a sad but true fact. Time changes people, and they grow apart and get divorced. If you are one of the lucky ones, this will not be the case for you. But there is a chance that it could be.
So let's start at the very beginning: the day you and your significant other became one, your wedding day. If you tell us the details of this momentous day, we will do our best to determine just how long your marriage will last. Will it be over rather quickly, last until your kids are nearly grown, or are you one of the couples who will make it until your dying breath? We shall see...
What season was your wedding in?
Most brides have a preference for which season they want to be married in. Maybe this has to do with a venue, or it being outdoors, or a certain décor or theme that is desired that can only be done during a specific time of year. Or maybe the timing just works out that way. Whatever the reason, when was your wedding?
How long were you engaged for?
Some people get engaged and then rush into things, or get married as soon as humanly possible. Others are engaged for years and years. But most people fall somewhere in between. After you got engaged, how long were you planning your wedding before finally becoming a married couple?
Did you have a destination wedding?
Wedding planning is stressful enough without having to worry about an entirely new destination, especially if it is far enough away that you would need to fly to get there. In this case, you might not even be able to see the venue before walking down the aisle. But if you can pull it off, it is sure to be worth every stressful minute.
If you did have a destination wedding, where was it?
There are so many amazing places around the world for a couple to be married, that it is almost a wonder more people do not jet off somewhere for the biggest day of their lives. Of course, there is the cost to consider, which is probably the reason most do not. Beach weddings are probably the most popular destination for weddings, But if you had one, where was yours?
How many guests were in attendance?
The number of guests in attendance at your wedding can be as varied as all the other wedding details. Some people get married at a courthouse with the minimum required witnesses, which could be just one or two people. And some wedding are the complete polar opposite, with hundreds and hundreds of people there to bear witness to the beginning of your marriage.
What was the bride's dress style?
One of the most important things to plan for the wedding (at least, one of the most important for the bride) is the dress. It is the most important piece of clothing she will ever wear in her life, so it is understandable that is has to be perfect. A lot of effort goes into picking just the right dress, such as body type, fabric, style, color, and so much more. After all, the bride is the real star of the show.
What was the dress (mostly) made of?
Since the dress is SO very important, the details must be known. Wedding dresses can be made of pretty much anything, but the most common dresses include a combination of silk, sheath, sparkles, lace, beads, embroidery, layers, pearls, chiffon, satin, etc. The list could go on and on. We understand that most dresses are made of many of these things, but what was the overwhelming element?
What was your color scheme?
The color scheme of a wedding is huge. Not only is it essential to coordinate the colors of the bride, groom, bridal party, and decorations like the flowers, but the color is going to stand out in all the photos. Every time you look at your wedding photos, you could be bombarded by an obnoxious orange, if that is what you have chosen. So hopefully, you chose wisely.
Tell us about the rings.
Rings symbolize eternity, which your love is supposed to be when you get married, because in a perfect world, all marriages would last forever (and the couple would be happy together forever). Since circles never end, this makes sense, and thus the wedding rings. What are yours like?
How many people were in the wedding party?
Typically, the wedding party consists of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the younger participants such as the flower girl, ring bearer, etc. But there are several reasons a couple may have very few (or even zero) people in their wedding party. Maybe they got married at a courthouse or preferred to have few people involved. It is all about preference.
Where was your reception?
Let's be honest; the wedding reception is what most people look forward to the most- bride, groom, and all the attendees. While the ceremony is important, it is the party afterward that is really fun. Between the dancing, the music, the booze, and the food, what's not to love? It is a great way to relax and unwind after all the stress of wedding planning!
What was your first dance like?
The bride and groom's first dance is the first time they will dance together as husband and wife. It is a sweet moment that everyone in attendance gets to watch. Some couples practice very hard to get it just right, some stray from the traditional slow dance, some skip it all together, and others do their own thing. How about you?
How much did your wedding cost?
Finances are always a touchy subject, but be honest: how much did your wedding cost you in total? Besides buying a house, going to college, or raising a child, getting married can be one of the most expensive things you will ever do, which sucks since starting off your marriage in any sort of debt BECAUSE of getting married is not ideal. But people do it every day.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
The honeymoon typically takes place quite soon after the wedding. It is a chance for the bride and groom to have some privacy and do what newlyweds do best- each other! But in all seriousness, the honeymoon is essential to start out your marriage on the right foot after all that stress of planning and executing a wedding.
Describe your wedding in one word.
Summing up anything- much less the biggest day of your entire life- in just one word is next to impossible to do. But when it comes to your wedding, choose one of the following words that comes closest to encompassing your big day. Was it elegant, rustic, charming, or over-the-top?
Where was the ceremony held?
When we think of a wedding venue, we usually think of the wedding reception, not the ceremony. But before there can be a party, there must be a marriage! To make things simple, some couples choose to have the ceremony and the party at the same place. To keep things cheap, some couples may choose to do both on the property of a loved one who may have a lovely backyard or private area. How about you?
How did he propose?
It all began with four little words: "Will you marry me?" Whether you were the one being asked, or the one doing the asking, this moment forever divided your lives into the Before and the After. Nothing was the same afterward. The wedding madness began, and it all culminated the day you got married. So for you two, how did the proposal go?
Was there any drama at the wedding?
Weddings may be beautiful and timeless and classic and very anticipated, but they are also stressful as hell. Especially if the bride and groom's family of friends do not get along for whatever reason, a wedding could be a breeding ground for drama. And anything other than happiness and attention on the happy couple is not cool at a wedding.
Did you get drunk at your wedding?
There is nothing wrong with drinking at your own wedding, especially if you are paying for 100 people to drink for free! Wine, champagne, beer, and spirits are rampant at wedding receptions, and many members of the wedding party often start drinking even before the ceremony when they are getting ready. For example, sometimes the women will have mimosas while doing hair and makeup. But at the reception, did you drink a little too much?
How was the wedding night, post-reception?
The wedding night is known for being the first time a man and woman sleep together as husband and wife. It is the time when most people consummate their marriage, even though in modern times most people have already had sex by the time they get married. But the reality is that sometimes after such a long day, couples are too exhausted to do anything but pass out. What about you?
Who caught the bouquet?
One Western wedding tradition that takes place at the reception is the tossing of the bouquet by the bride. Whomever catches it is said to be the next woman who will get married. Needless to say that most single women try pretty hard to catch it- just in case. At your wedding, who was the lucky lady to catch the bride's bouquet?
Who caught the garter?
The flower bouquet is not the only thing traditionally thrown at a wedding; there is also the garter! After the groom burrows his head under the wedding dress while music plays and people cheer, he slithers the garter off her leg and then throws it to the crowd of single men. As with the bouquet, it is said that whomever catches it will be the next to marry. Who caught yours?
After the ceremony, what was thrown at you?
It is traditional that as a bride and groom leave the church (or wherever they have just been married), the guests throw rice at them. In the past few decades, other things like bubbles or butterflies being released have also been popular. And of course, there are other options, and some choose not to have anything thrown at them, at all.
How many times did guests clink their glasses for you to kiss?
Yet another wedding tradition, at least in America, is the clinking of cutlery against wine glasses, signaling the bride and groom to kiss. Every time someone clinks their glass (inevitably followed by more people gung-ho to see a smooch), the newlyweds must kiss for all to see. Roughly how many times did you kiss because of this tradition?
Was your ceremony religious?
Traditionally, no matter your culture, weddings have been religious. But the great thing is that they don't have to be. They can be held in a "House of God"- a synagogue, a temple, a church, a mosque- or they can be held anywhere else. No matter your religion or lack thereof, your wedding is just for you, and that can look like anything you want it to, religious or otherwise.
Were you (or was the bride) a bridezilla?
Hopefully in hindsight, you can admit if you were a bridezilla, or if your wife was. It is easy to slip into that stressed-out, micro-managing bridezilla mode. After all, it is the most important day of your life thus far, so it is only natural to want everything to be perfect. And sometimes, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, leaving a LOT of work for the bride. Was she/were you a bridezilla?
Was there an open bar?
People attending a wedding usually wonder if there will be an open bar at the reception. This is because they are expected to be there for five or six hours (sometimes even more), from before dinner until midnight or so, and that is a lot of time to be paying for drinks. And who doesn't want to drink at a wedding?
What kind of food was served at the reception?
Good friends, good times, good memories- it goes without saying that good food goes right along with it all. Most people choose something that everyone likes, like chicken, as a main dish for their wedding. Those among us who appreciate the finer things in life (and have extra money) will go for something a little more luxurious, like steak or salmon. What was served at your wedding reception?
What song did you/she walk down the aisle to?
There are so many choices of what to walk down the aisle to, and it is a pretty important choice. If you are the bride, it is like one of the biggest moments of your life. If you are the groom, it is the moment you see your bride in her dress, and the moment she is about to become your wife. Most people go with Here Comes The Bride or Pachelbel's Canon, although other songs are becoming more commonplace, too.
Who gave you/her away?
The all important walk down the aisle by the bride is a highly anticipated moment. It comes after the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and flower girl walk down the aisle, and everyone stands up for the bride, who is typically escorted by her father. At the altar, he will give her away. But as we know, "typical" is starting to encompass more and more these days.
Describe your Bachelor/Bachelorette party
One tradition that many could never do without is the bachelor/bachelorette party. It is supposedly the last chance the bride and groom will have to go out as "single" people. These parties are known for getting quite wild, with things like tons of alcohol, strippers, and lap dances. In recent years, some couples have started the trend of combining the parties, doing a whole weekend away like in Vegas or at a cabin, and other new traditions.
How nervous were you on the big day?
Brides and grooms are known for developing "cold feet" in the days before their wedding. They begin overthinking everything, questioning their decision to marry, and freaking themselves out. But usually, all of the nerves disappear as the ceremony gets started and they see one another at opposite ends of the aisle. Wedding day jitters are completely normal, but how bad were yours?
Rate your wedding on a scale of 1-10.
We would like to know how YOU feel about your own wedding, so rate it on a scale of 1-10, one being the worst, and 10 being the best. Was it everything you could have ever hoped for, was it a total flop, or did it fall somewhere in between? It would be quite difficult to pull of an entirely flawless wedding, but maybe it is one of those things in life that's flaws make it beautiful.
If you could, what one thing would you change about your wedding?
As it is said, hindsight is 20/20. With the knowledge you have now of how your wedding would turn out, what would be the one thing you would go back and change if you could, to make it all the more perfect? It could be anything from how much you spent to the number of guests to the location, or anything else you could think of.
How long do YOU think your marriage will last?
No one knows your marriage better than you do. What does your gut instinct tell you about how long your marriage will last? Of course, every person who has ever gotten married has gone into it thinking it will be forever, because that is what marriage is supposed to be. Why would you get married unless it is forever, anyway? But things change and people change, so knowing what you know now, how long do you honestly think your marriage will last?
