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How Many People Say "I Do"? Information released in 2007 shows that there were 244,710 marriages in 2005 of which 84,400 got married in religious ceremonies. The average age that men get married is now 36.2 years and for women it is 33.6 years. For people who got married in 2005, 65% chose to get married in civil ceremonies. Wedding Speeches I remember giving a speech as the groom. There is a commonly quoted survey which found that public speaking was people's biggest fear. As a wedding is a very special occasion with so much preparation, it is worth putting some thought and technique into giving a good speech. There are ways to structure a good speech. You may want to take a look at the site for professionally written and inspirational wedding speeches and toasts, including best man, bride, groom and father-of-the-bride speeches. There is a fee of a few dollars (but sterling is high so it is currently good value). Click Here! Green Weddings are the New White Weddings More people are now taking into account the environment, which they will leave to future generations, when they plan their wedding. This includes hiring a caterer who uses locally sourced produce. Did you know that approximately 45% of the UK's food is imported, a lot of which is unnecessary as much of fruit and vegetables could be grown in this country. 56% of the organic food we buy is also imported. Some couples look for venues which operate on environmentally sound principles and some grooms are purchasing rings which are ethically sourced (www.cred.tv) or made from recycled gold (www.greenkarat.com). For guests searching for the perfect present, there is the opportunity to give charity gifts (www.weddinglistgiving.com) and Carbon Neutral has a wedding pack which includes two trees in the Marry Me Wood (www.carbonneutral.com). Welsh Harp Music will arrange a harpist for you to enjoy at your wedding ceremony, reception or other function, based on trying to minimise travel to your chosen venue. Capture the Best Wedding Moments on Video We had a professional photographer who took some great photographs for our wedding. However, we also had a family friend capture some of the action on video. This is a good idea in that they can capture some very special informal moments, often across most of the day. To get the best memories, here is a link to guidance on wedding video secrets. I usually suggest that someone discreetly captures a little footage of your harpist playing. Again, please note that there is a small cost, but from our experience you may consider it is a small price to pay to discover some expert advice for the big day. Click Here! Wedding Planning As mentioned on the front page, planning is the key to a good wedding. You may want to hire a wedding planner. If not, take a look at some of the possibilities. This is especially helpful if you are also working at the same time. I remember the amount of detail involved in planning our wedding. This guidance is American, so some information may not apply in Wales and the UK. But, even if some of the ideas save a few hundred pounds, it is worth considering. At the time of writing this tip, you will notice that there is free wedding planning software included with the guide, but I do not know how long this will be available. Click Here!
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