By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

These days, brides get married to the wedding before they get married to their mates. With so many choices and so much stress, it is easy to get lost in planning a great wedding and forget to focus on building a great marriage!

Here are some Wedding Goddess tips for stepping into married life with strenght and wisdom:

1. Be aware that getting married can stir up a lot of emotions. The process itself sets forth period of growth and change that can be very nerve -wracking. Once you decide to marry you will begin the process of getting ready for marriage … and unresolved emotions may come to the surface to be explored. Be prepared to do some inner work along with all the external preparations. Honor and address the emotions and fears that arise. Trust they are natural. Don't sweep things under the rug. There are things you can do in addition to pre-marital counseling.

2. Ask yourselves, and each other, A LOT of questions. Don't assume that married life will be the same as single life. And don't be afraid to get to know each other's truest feelings. It is important that you you delve into everything from how you'll raise your kids, to what kind of color scheme you want in your home, to how you will spend free nights at home once the wedding is over. Many brides and grooms tend to want to avoid the deep talks, and dwell on the surface aspected of getting married. Your married life will be a lot smoother if you communicate with and listen to. Be willing to hear things you may not like and agree with... find ways to compromise or give in to one another.

3. Picture Your Future. In addition lots of questions and thoughtful answers, begin to think about and visualize the life you want to share. What will it look like? What will your new roles be like? What kind of home and family life do you home to have. Although it is fun to day dream, it is very practical to give thought and vision to the life you want to create. You might even want to create a treasure map or a book of choices to guide you.

Continue reading "Beyond the Wedding - Tips For a Healthy Marriage" »

Posted November 14, 2007 5:16 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It ain't easy raising girls these days. Whether your kids, or the celebrity kids who parade across the evening tabloid news, girlhood is not what it used to be!

There are so many influences from less than fabulous role models who show the darker side of feminine nature ... so much media and advertising input giving girls unrealistic expectations about how they should look ... so much peer pressure and so little support of girl's self esteem.

Even the wedding industry paints a picture of the perfect bride, establishing the fantasy of the 'perfect wedding' at an early age.

We can see from some the role models offered up by young Hollywood that girls today grow up too fast and often skip past the simple joys of “girlhood.” This summer, Barbie comes to the rescue!

Barbie, a 48-year icon of girls' childhood's, has been adored and admonished for her role in influencing girls. Once just a prom queen and fashion plate, she has become a doctor, lawyer, athlete and Goddess in special editions over the years and perhaps as she heads toward 50 she's becoming a wise woman who can inspire young girls.

Her parent company Mattel is hoping so. Mattel and Barbie have launched We Believe in Girls, a program that aims to give parents a voice about the state of girls today. Parents can participate in polls as well as weigh in on discussion forums about societal pressures their daughters face everyday. The poll results will then help shape the content of a global, 10-country research study this summer.

Everyone is invited to participate, from moms and dads to teachers, academics, social commentators, behaviorists — anyone who cares about girls' well being. They want to hear your ideas, opinions, points of view — in short the unfiltered truth.

In addition to collecting real advice from real parents, the website will be augmented with relevant articles, website links and an engaging array of diverse parenting points-of-view from around the world.

Posted July 12, 2007 9:09 PM by Editor | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Everyone is talking about 7-7-07. Let's not forget 6-21-07.

It is Summer Solstice, traditionally a heavenly time to pledge your love.

And its a lucky day indeed. It is the longest day of the year, a time when the sun is at the height of it’s power, and good vibrations abound.

The folks at Chiff.com put it this way:

"Awed by the great power of the sun, world civilizations for many centuries have celebrated the Summer Solstice - otherwise known as Midsummer. The Celts and Slavs celebrated with dancing and bonfires to help increase the sun's energy, the Chinese marked the day by honoring Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light, and the Druids celebrated it as the wedding of Heaven and Earth, resulting in the enduring modern custom of a "lucky" wedding in June.”

Continue reading "A Midsummer Night's Marriage - As Lucky as 7-7-07?" »

Posted June 20, 2007 6:59 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

I was interviewed today for an article about interfaith weddings and in sharing stories about some of my couples I was reminded of a really interesting wedding I co-officiated several years ago.

The bride, a recovering alcoholic, wanted a libation ceremony that honored her connection to the earth and would not make her family run screaming from the room (a wine ceremony might). So we used water, which I asked the guests to help me bless.

If you happen to be looking for a non-alcoholic libation ceremony for your wedding, try this!

Continue reading "Wedding Libation Ceremony - No Alcohol, Just Love" »

Posted June 19, 2007 6:32 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Some people are saying that 7-07-07 will be the most popular wedding date of the century.

Wedding venues across the nation say the 7-07-07 wedding date has booked up fast as couples set their sights on pledging their love on a "lucky day."

You can just imagine what a popular day that will be in Las Vegas, especially since 7-7-7 is a winning jackpot!

Ever wonder why else the number 7 is so hot? We have 7 wonders of the world, 7 seas and 7 continents. Superstitions abound about the numbe. From the religious and spiritual perspectives, here are some of the reasons it is considered sacred.

In the Bible. The number 7 is a perfect and important number.

From the Jewish perspective: The number 7 is prominent in the Torah and the Zohar. God rested on the seventh day of creating earth, and hence, sanctified and deemed Sabbath on day seven. There are seven blessings over the wine are recited under the huppa during the marriage ceremony.

From the Catholic perspective: There are Seven sacraments, we have Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, and Pride) and Seven Virtues (Chastity, Moderation, Liberality, Charity, Meekness, Zeal, and Humility).

From the Christian perspective: In the New Testament, Jesus tells Peter he must forgive "seventy times seven."

From the Native American and Wiccan traditions: Their are 7 directions: east, west, north, south, Above, Below and Within. There are 7 sacred ceremonies.

From the Hindu tradition. There are 7 energy centers in the body called chakras. They represent both physical and energetic centers and they are: root, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown. In the Hindu wedding ceremony, the most important part is Saptapadi, the 7 steps around the sacred flame as 7 blessings are chanted.

From the Japanese Shinto religion: There are "Seven Lucky Gods" who preside over fortune.

In mythology: Innana, the Babylonian Goddess Queen of Heaven, had to descend 7 levels to the underworld stripping her jewels, clothes, crown, and ego (7 items in all) along the way in order to rescue her beloved Tamuz from the depths of hell.

Lucky 7

From sports to the stars: 7 comes up sacred again. In astronomy and astrology there are 7 planets that can be seen with the naked eye.In baseball, there was only one number 7 - Mickey Mantle.

Gambler's luck. In the game of craps, 7 wins in any combination. Lady Luck is a character who wears dice for earrings and they always have the number 7.

As you can see, ancient and popular thinking would seem to make 7-07-07 a helluva wedding date, a triple chance at good luck! If this is your wedding day, may it be a lucky roll of the dice!

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Continue reading "Why is 7-07-07 Such a Hot Date for a Wedding?" »

Posted June 13, 2007 7:50 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

I love the new book, Las Vegas, Nevada: A Photographic Portrait, (Twin Lights Publishers, 2007) featuring the photos of Randa Bishop.

Bishop has photographed locations from Australia to Zimbabwe, shooting in over 50 countries and 60 Islands. This experience must have prepared her well for the diversity of Las Vegas. She really captures both the extraordinary casinos, statuary and landmarks as well as the stunning beauty of the area. She also includes the classic - Wayne Newton, the scary right at the Stratosphere, and the Little Chapel of the West.

Each photo shows a true aspect of Las Vegas ... that each casino or area is like its own little world.

Throw them all together and they compose a massive, sparkly, energy-packed, fantasy-driven town. Individually, parts of Las Vegas sing with beauty and grace - and culture! For example:

* Her shot of New York, New York gives you the feel for the real NYC.

* A Photo of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and the mock Eiffel tower looks like the real thing.

* The Golden Atlas on the grounds of the MGM Grand comes alive.

* The image of Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory, in front of Caesar's looks as real as the original (only the telltale "Caesar's Palace" sign gives it away).

This is the Las Vegas that I fell in love with, the one that is rich in culture, images of angels and divine beings from many traditions. It is the Las Vegas that gives you the sense of being treated to a smorgasbord of travel adventures all in one place! The book truly shows you that you don't have to enjoy gambling to enjoy Las Vegas.

The book is also a bit of history lesson. For example, did you know that the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign" was created by Betty Willis in 1959? Cool, huh.

This is a great book to buy as a Las Vegas keepsake if you are coming here to marry, or to give to family, friends and/or members of the bridal party.

Posted June 6, 2007 9:26 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

This weekend my husband Rev. Vic Fuhrman and I attended Book Expo America (BEA) in New York City and completely immersed ourselves in the publishing world for three full days. Wowsa. It was fun. I have books published with four different publishers, so it was nice to visit them all.

One of my greatest surprises was to happen upon the booth for Skylight Paths Publishing and Jewish Lights Publishing. I have a number of their books on my book shelves, and have heard of so many of them, for some reason I never realized they are from the same publisher.

These interrelated companies produce some of the most extraordinary and soulful books on spirituality and religion and they do so in the true spirit of interfaith. As interfaith ministers, hubby and I truly appreciate the kind of material these folks are bringing to the world. Here are some of the titles we feel are especially helpful couples about to marry in blended-faith unions:

How to Be A Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook. This is a phenomenal reference book - winner of the Best Reference Book of the Year Award, in fact -- that tips you off to practices and traditions in all faiths. How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religious Ceremonies is also terrific. Both are edited by company founder and president, Stuart M. Matlins along with Arthur J. Magida

Perfect Stranger's Guide to Wedding Ceremonies: A Guide to Etiquette in Other People's Religions is also edited by Stuart M. Matlins and great guide for anyone going to a wedding based on a different faith or culture, let alone marrying in one.

The Creative Jewish Wedding Book: A Hands On Guide to New and Old Tradions. by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer. This is helpful, creative and modern; gives a great sense of tradition and how creative you can be. We just added to our library.

They also have a number of special series that share selections and saying from specific faiths, such as The Qur'an and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. These distill the teachings of important holy books and are great tools for those of us who are not religious scholars, but who want to learn about other faiths.

And the "What You Will See Inside" series that takes you into the worship practices of various faiths, one book at a time, such as What You Will See Inside A Hindu Temple or a Mosque/ Catholic Church/Synagogue.

For all you folks of any faith or background in the market for wedding bling, you have to check out Engagement & Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love, by Antoinette Matlins. It tells you everything you need to know about purchasing the best wedding jewlery, including: What to look for; what questions to ask; how to protect against the unscrupulous; how to know whether or not you’re getting good value; and how to create a ring that expresses your innermost feelings.

To peruse other titles, go to: www.skylightpaths.com and www.jewishlights.com.

Continue reading "Great Books for Brides and Grooms of All Faiths" »

Posted June 5, 2007 11:11 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Everyone is talking about 7-7-07. Some call it "the luckiest day of the millennium."

Couples around the country are booking this wedding date like crazy. Las Vegas will host a huge number of nuptials that day. Come to town and you will likely see a sea of white dresses, tuxedos and limos parading along the Las Vegas Strip!

The Garden Chapel at Flamingo Las Vegas noticed a surge in wedding bookings for this day a while back and decided to shoot for the best luck possible. They came up with a very cool idea!

They will host 77 weddings on 7/7/07. They will utilize 7 venues on property, including a number of poolside weddings, to accommodate all those lucky couples.

Some local Las Vegas couples are among the lucky 77 but Kris LaBuda, Flamingo Garden Chapel Manager, tells us that 94 per cent of the couples are coming in from out of town to wed.

LaBuda and staff are gearing up to be “Wedding Central” on this day. On very busy Saturday during the peak of Las Vegas' wedding season there would be about 31 weddings. So they will be handling more than double the love -- and logistics!

We asked Kris LaBuda 7 questions about the Big Day:

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Continue reading "The Flamingo Las Vegas Will Be Wedding Central on 7-7-07" »

Posted May 18, 2007 8:06 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It's wedding season and brides all around the world are focused on one of the most important aspects of the big day - looking fabulous! I just learned about "The Metaphysical Diet," from Steven E. Hodes, M.D., and thought you might like to try!

Dr. Steve is a board certified gastroenterologist with over 25 years private practice and author of the forthcoming book, Meta-Physician On Call. He’s devoted himself to speaking and writing about metaphysics and healing, with an eye toward helping people regain their health, strength and the ability to explore life’s challenges from as more spiritual perspective.

He's given us permission to share his practical, yet spiritual tips for weight loss.

Try The Metaphysical Diet
By Steven E. Hodes, M.D.

As a gastroenterologist, people ask me for diet advice constantly. They want to know the fastest, easiest way to slim down. Sorry to say, there is no “magic pill.”

The solution to the problem of weight control involves understanding the interaction of body, mind and spirit. Even with this awareness, however, it is necessary to understand and examine the practical and scientifically based perspective on managing weight.

I am not a fan of ‘fad’ diets. There are basic scientific truths which govern the way our bodies function and we should be aware of them: consumption of more calories than one can expend in physical activity results in weight gain. Conversely, the opposite is true for weight loss. Fat contains more calories than protein or carbohydrates -- Per gram of weight – that’s why fatty foods make us fatter.

There is an element of truth behind the anti-carbohydrate mania we see in today’s diets—elevation of blood sugar activates insulin which adds fat to our bodies - but I do not agree with the extreme version of the Atkins diet in which carbohydrates are regarded as “poison.”

Our problem with weight control in this country is actually quite simple—we eat too much!

Continue reading "Brides-to-Be: Try the "Metaphysical Diet"" »

Posted May 15, 2007 6:15 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Could it be that weddings are working? Or at least sticking.

News on the marriage front is not very romantic or sexy, but it tells us that the divorce rate is down. It is the lowest its been since 1970. In 1981 we were a country with a 50 per cent divorce rate. Recent statistics say that could be changing.

The only problem: No one is quite sure if relationships are any better or if Americans have gotten better at choosing the right mates.

The Associate Press conducted an interesting probe into this topic, sorting through statistics and interviewing many experts on the topics. They pondered the questions: Is divorce declining because marriage is better, people are more grown up about it, or we take commitment more seriously?

The answer: Not necessarily. It could be there are just less people marrying, and more are living together "out of wedlock." You wouldn't know if by this culture's increased interest in "everything wedding" but AP reported the divorce rate is down because:

* The number of couples who live together without marrying has increased tenfold since 1960

* The marriage rate has dropped nearly 30 percent in the past 25 years.

* Americans are waiting about five years longer to marry than they did in 1970.

They report: "the national per capita divorce rate has declined steadily since its peak in 1981."

Some experts says the real story lies in what they call the "The Divorce Divide". College educated couples seem less likely to split up, while couples who are not as educated or affluent tend to divorce more.

Does this mean people who've gone to college and have good jobs appreciate love, partnership and family more?

Experts say that it could just be that having a few bucks helps ease some of the tensions of modern family life. The more upbeat experts attribute it to new attitudes toward marriage that lead people to want to honor an uphold their vows, and stick together, for better or for worse.

Ouch. It is so sad to talk about marriage without thinking of a bride and groom, a happy couple, the love that brings them together... and the possibility that even when things become, dull, tough, and seem hopeless for love, there might still be a spark that two grown up people can choose to reignite to bring love alive again.

When life gets tough, it sometimes helps to remember what it is that made you fall in love with your mate, and look one another in the eyes and repeat your vows.

I take you
to be my husband/wife.
To have and to hold
from this day forward
In good times and bad times,
In sickness and in health.
To love, honor and cherish,
All the days of my life.

Regardless of the divorce stats, 120,000 or more couples come to Las Vegas each year to marry. You are always invited her to renew your vows too!

Continue reading "Divorce Rate Down: Good News For Married Couples and To-Be-Weds" »

Posted May 11, 2007 6:53 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

It's May Day. Love is in the air.

Those of you who have found true love and are getting ready for marriage can sit back and enjoy the day with the one you love. If you are still searching ... today is a great day to reflect on the relationship you want and say a prayer for true love.

Meeting your love match often requires a combination of consciousness and conscious effort, making choices and allowing things to happen as they are meant to be. It requires some level of faith and believing in love, even when romance seems far away. A little help from experts never hurts!

Several years ago, my friend Arielle Ford did a wonderful book about real lovers who found each other in mystical ways, Hot Chocolate For The Mystical Lover: 101 Stories of Soul Mates Brought Together By Divine Intervention, and this month she launches her "Soulmate Kit" offering a step-by-step process for finding "big love."

I was happy to be included as the expert on how to use Feng Shui to magnetize true love.

Arielle often says, "You never know what is around the corner" when it comes to love. That is SO true. One day you are yearning to meet the love of your life ... next minute .... that person is standing before you.

Her personal love story is an inspiration. She's convinced that a prayer and prophetic dreams set the stage to bring her together with her beloved. It began one night when she whispered her prayer for true love into the ear of her spiritual teacher, Ammachi, and asked to be healed of anything that might be standing in the way of love. Soon, she had dreams that gave insights about the man she would soon meet and fall in love with.

A few weeks later Arielle, then 44 and working as a hugely successful book publicist, was sent on business to Portland, to work on a project that involved Brian Hilliard. Although they had never met, they had both had dreams that told of finding each other. A year to the day of whispering her prayer, they were wed by her spiritual teacher and another ceremony followed, officiated by their friend, singer Kenny Loggins.

Having known Arielle before Bri, and being dear friends with them both since they've been together, I can attest to the fact that theirs is a match made in the heavens! They've always been an inspiration. In fact, Arielle was a bridesmaid at our Las Vegas Elvis Wedding at Graceland Chapel and Brian walked me down the aisle!

Check out my interview with Arielle about soulmates.

Continue reading "Find Your Soulmate - New Soulmate Kit Shows How" »

Posted May 1, 2007 6:17 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

It's May... It's May... the lusty month of May...

Beltane, also known as “May Day,” is the ancient Celtic fertility holiday that celebrated the rites of spring with much frolicking and fun. It begins tonight at sundown April 30th and lasts all day on May 1.

Beltane signals the beginning of the bright half of the year. It means “Bright Fires,” or “Brilliant Fires.”

In ancient times, two great fires were lit, and made with healing herbs. The light would guide the townspeople through the night, and some would jump skyclad over the flames and or rides their animals between the two fires to be blessed by the sacred smoke.

It is also the holiday of soulful love, a time when we feel called to open our hearts and or connect more deeply with others. It celebrates love, attraction and courtship – and “mating season.” Here, we call it “wedding season.”

Its origins among the Celtic peoples of Western Europe and the British Isles, particularly Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Think Excalibur Hotel!

One of my favorite examples of Beltane is the scene in the movie, Camelot, where Queen Gwenevere (Vanessa Redgrave) goes off with her court “a-maying.” She sang the famous Lerner and Lowe song:

It's May! It's May!
The lusty month of May!...
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes!
The lusty month of May!

Even today it sort of sounds like a night in Las Vegas.

Continue reading "Beltane and the Greewood Marriages" »

Posted April 30, 2007 7:12 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

A Minnesota National Guardsman was able to virtually "kiss the bride" when he and his beloved were married yesterday. There were 6,000 miles between them, but they became one when they shared vows via video conferencing.

It is a technology that has brought our men and women in the armed forces home for moments at a time to witness special moments like seeing newborns for the first time, graduations, and other events.

It is also similar to technology that many Las Vegas chapels have been using for years to help couples who come in from town broadcast their weddings live to loved ones in other states.

Spc. Abraham Rhode and Amanda Hart were able to use video teleconferencing -- with the help of a Chaplain -- to be joined as husband and wife, according to the Associated Press. The bride was in Minnesota and the groom in Iraq.

This couple is apparently among a handful who have opted for marriage by video conference since the start of the war. They were able to arrange it when they discovered his deployment would be delayed, and they had a baby on the way.

They'd planned an August wedding, which he was due to come home and help plan, but they settled for official union via video conference. Hart said even so it was "was pretty exciting, overwhelming."

Posted March 29, 2007 5:15 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It is always nice to come across articles that others write about the wacky and wonderful world of getting married in Las Vegas. It gives you perspective on how special this town really is and what a "Wow" it is for couples who come from all over the world to say "I Do" in our uniquely Las Vegas way.

I came across this article by Molly Snyder Edler, a staff writer at OnMilwaukee.com, and it speaks to the true allure of Las Vegas weddings for the hundreds upon hundreds who marry here each year: You can come from anywhere, any time, and have a wedding that truly speaks to your personalities and your idea of what a wedding should be. You can have an all out fantasy wedding, choose something wacky, or just have a nice little romantic experience and then head out on the town. There are some awesome photos with her piece, which begins ....

"Not every couple dreams of having a typical church wedding or the classic reception featuring the Chicken Dance, spoons clinking water glasses and a tipsy maid of honor toasting the smooched-out newlyweds. Instead, thousands of lovebirds -- approximately 130,000 couples every year -- choose the slightly more alternative route and express their undying love in the heart of Sin City."

"Vegas is one of the easiest places in the world to get hitched. For only $55 (the cost of the marriage license), a couple can legally tie the knot, and neither a blood test nor a waiting period is required. The law insists that a witness is present, but most chapels can provide one if the couple is alone."

Continue reading Molly's view on Vegas weddings.:

Posted March 22, 2007 7:12 AM by Charlotte Rose | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Brides and grooms are booking wedding venues and vendors like crazy to grab what is seen as the "Lucky 7" wedding date. Vegas is booking up fast as couples plan early (for Las Vegas) for 7-7-07 nuptials.

For those of you who are rushing to the altar to get hitched on that wedding day, here are some wedding stressors to watch out for and some Wedding Goddess Solutions to help you through.

1. Remember, Bridezillas are made, not born. I've said it before and I will say it again...It is easy to get sucked into the vortex of wedding planning stress, and overwhelmed by the stress, pressure and expectations of those around you. You have to include stress management, self-nurturing and time to chill out as an integral part of her wedding planning process.

Continue reading "7 Tips for Avoiding 7-7-07 Wedding Stress" »

Posted February 27, 2007 5:26 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

There are a couple million couples who get hitched in the United States each year and you can be sure that a heaping number of them got engaged last week on Valentine's Day. Congratulations!

Getting married is huge step in the life of any bride and groom. The journey to the altar is a sacred time of truly getting ready for a long term, loving relationship. Too often, couples get lost in the hoopla around getting hitched, instead of focusing on the steps of preparing for married life.

My advice: Don’t just plan a fabulous wedding ... prepare for an awesome marriage.

As romantic as it is to get engaged, and plan a wedding, there is so much more to be explored as you head toward your wedding day. I find that as weddings become more creative and self-expressive, more and more couples want to by-pass deep reflection and mindful preparation and go straight to the party planning and the wedding dramas. They tend to avoid taking time out to talk about what their married life will be like.

Even a great relationship must be nurtured and built into a great marriage. Here are eight tips to give your marraige a head start!

Continue reading "Advice for the Newly Engaged - Prepare for an Awesome Marriage" »

Posted February 19, 2007 5:38 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

On happy note, love sizzled in the air in Las Vegas yesterday as thousands of couples took a gamble on marriage and got hitched on Valentine's Day. Congratulations to all the newlyweds!

There are about 122,000 or more weddings in Vegas each year and a huge percent of them on the holiday of hearts! It was BUSY! Some people just flew in and out to exchange "I dos." Some are still hanging around to enjoy the town, and the honeymoon!

Chapels filled with couples in love. Venues throughout Vegas offered special wedding perks and packages. Elvis sang his heart out. Hotels were crammed with instant-honeymooners who moved from chapel to wedding night, with maybe a little celebratory meal in between.

The clerk's office -- which recently underwent a budget cut and change in hours -- was open for 24 hours to accomodate the Valentine's Day crowd. With $55 cash, and a dream, couples lined up for hours awaiting their turn to fill out the paper work for a marriage license. Then off they went... to get married.

Sigh. This is what Las Vegas is all about!

If you missed it this year, no worries. The great thing is you can visit anytime and easily tie the knot.

Since the other thing Las Vegas is all about is gambling, check out your marital odds at Vegas Wedding Odds, a goofy website that can tell you if yours match is made in heaven.

Continue reading "Thousands Get Married In Las Vegas on Valentine's Day" »

Posted February 15, 2007 8:41 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

The Year of the Dog will bow-wow out today as the Year of the Pig oinks it's way in.

Feb 4 marks the changes of the animal guards in Chinese Astrology, on the solar calendar. It’s February 18 on the lunar calendar, which is also the day that the Chinese New Year is celebrated.

There are twelve animals on the Chinese Zodiac in all and each year heralds in a different animal and energy that is considered to have its auspicious as well as unlucky aspects.

Chinese mothers do not want their children to tie the knot this year. That’s why 2006 brought a mad dash to the altar by couples seeking a marital blessing during of the auspicious Year of the Dog. Many believe this year is not so great – for marriage anyway.

The Year of the Pig – which follows the Year of the Dog every 12 years – is also known as “Year of the Widow.” Not a good time to wed, according to many Buddhists and those who follow the Chinese fortune telling calendar.

Continue reading "Is 'The Year of the Pig' Bad News for Brides?" »

Posted February 4, 2007 9:20 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Eva Longoria and beau Tony Parker have jumped on the bandwagon of thousands of other couples around the country who have selected 07-07-07 as their wedding date.

Parker is French, so the wedding is planned for the Chateau de Chantilly in Parker's native France. Longoria was quoted as saying that her hubby-to-be is highly superstitious and believes the 777 wedding date will give their marriage the best start.

They are not the only ones! Hotels across the land are seeing that 7-07-07 date book up fast as couples set their sights on pledging their love on a "lucky day."

You can just imagine what a popular day that will be in Las Vegas!

Ever wonder why the number 7 is so hot? From a spiritual perspective, here are some of the reasons it is considered sacred.

Continue reading "Eva Longoria Picks 7-07-07 Wedding Date - Is It Truly Lucky?" »

Posted January 28, 2007 7:07 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Did you ring in the New Year with a ring? To all you newly engaged brides, congratulations! Now the fun begins.

Perhaps you will consider Las Vegas right off the bat. This is truly a town that caters to taking care of all your wedding needs. About 140,000 or so couples get hitched here each year.

However, If you have your heart set on a hometown family affair, or a destination wedding, set off on the path of the wedding of your dreams, and stay clear of the nuptials of your nightmares.

I am firm believer that a bride has to include stress management, self-nurturing and time to chill out as an integral part of her wedding planning process. It is a journey that is bound to have some bumps in the road, but no need to take the “Stress Express” to the altar, as so many brides do these days. Taking care of you, and your relationship, is the best way to reduce stress and keep yourself together.

Here are some tips to get you through the tough spots:

Establish boundaries from the start: Some brides get sucked into the vortex of wedding planning stress, and overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations of those around her. You will not be able to please everyone or manage everyone’s emotions. Focus on managing your own … and being true to yourself. It’s your wedding, not your mom’s, sister’s, or your maid of honor’s.

Stay close to your groom: You will cut your stress in half if you two remain a united team. You won’t see eye to eye on all things … but you must stand together and back each other up when it comes to making decisions. When well-meaning-but-meddling relatives try to sway you, stay strong and hold on tight to one another!

Continue reading "Now That You Are Engaged ... Tips for New Brides-to-Be" »

Posted January 17, 2007 8:06 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Wow... my phones are ringing off the hook with calls from brides who got engaged over the holidays, and those who slacked off on wedding planning during the holiday season. Everyone is back on track for planning The Big Day. Congratulations!

What a relief. Feels like "Divorce Season" is behind us, now that Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are settling into single life. With some of those celebrity break-ups fading from the front page of the news, we mortals can celebrate marriage again. Hooray. Love is still alive.

Let's figure out how to KEEP IT THAT WAY, celebs and we regular folk, alike.

In honor of the New Year, want to remind brides-to-be and their grooms to always honor the love you have and keep the lines of communication open.

So if you get a little crazed dealing with wedding details ... or if you find you are not always seeing eye to eye ...or if you ever feel your relationship needs a tune up ... think back to the early days of love, when all you could think about was one another. And think back to the moment when you became engaged -- and how you were both kind of floating on air.

Here’s a little exercise for clearing the air if you ever find yourself stuck in a rut or being unloving with each other, or if you just need to take some sacred time to share what’s on your mind.

Continue reading "Happy New Year! Let's Celebrate Love and Marriage!" »

Posted January 2, 2007 5:12 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Tomorrow is Winter Solstice ... shortest day and longest night of the year. Las Vegas will be lit up with neon galore but I think we can also use a hunk ... a hunk of burning love to herald in the light.

Winter solstice is a cool time to get hitched. Symbolically, if you can make it through the darkest night together, it helps you begin married life with more sunshine to come.

You also beat the New Year’s rush to the altar and can marry on a day that is close to all the holidays – Christmas, Kwanza, Yule, Hanukah. In fact, Winter Solstice this year falls on the same day as the seventh day of Hanukah, December 21 – another festival that celebrates the light.

Since it is said that bride and groom represent two lights coming together as one stronger, brighter light, it’s a great way to celebrate the merging of your lives.

There is much folk lore and history about this time of year. You’ll find many of the holidays celebrated by different faiths this time of year find their origins in the ancient Winter Solstice customs, named after the Roman sun god, Sol. It is considered a spiritually auspicious or celebratory time. Some factoids:

Continue reading "Winter Solstice is a great time to marry" »

Posted December 20, 2006 7:12 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Gosh darn it, it is time to have some fun.

I happened upon one of my all time favorite movies, Mary Poppins, the other day, just as Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn) and Bert (Dick Van Dyke) were floating to the ceiling in a wave of giggles singing the classic song, “I Love to laugh.”

I love to laugh
Loud and long and clear
I love to laugh
It's getting worse ev'ry year

The more I laugh
The more I fill with glee
And the more the glee
The more I'm a merrier me

It filled me with so much joy and reminded me how much we all need a good laugh, especially when in the throes of the holiday season.

Las Vegas is a fun town, but you will always have those days when everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

Just shopping and preparing for the holidays and family visits, it is very easy to get frustrated, bent out of shape, and lose your sense of humor. There are a lot of things that can lead us down a bumpy, grumpy path. But there is one thing that can snap us out of it in a nanosecond: Laughter.

Continue reading "Mary Poppins in Las Vegas? Spread Holiday Laughter and Cheer" »

Posted December 19, 2006 5:40 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway
Wedding Goddess Wisdom

Around this time, a lot of average people are wondering how the heck they will survive this Thanksgiving Holidays.

It all starts off okay. The turkey is cooking. The yummy smell reminds you of childhood. You want so much to conjure good feelings and the sense of joy of younger days. There is something about coming hungry to Thanksgiving dinner ... it helps you maintain a sense of innocence, possibility and calm; and it allows you to also feel hunger for family closeness and joy.

Then you eat ... and eat ... and eat ... and perhaps drink ... and you find yourself weighed down and exhausted.

Then reality sets in: Some us seem to share a gene pool with people we have nothing in common with, or who agitate us to no end. Just like planning a wedding, holidays tend to exacerbate family drama. If you are sharing thanksgiving and in the midst of planning a wedding, you might be getting a double dose of it.

I am not saying that everyone's family is dysfunctional. Some people really enjoy holidays. But many people seem to want to know how to quell anxiety and anger when it comes to family gatherings.

The solution: Ditch your family and run off to Las Vegas to frolic!

Or intend to bring a little light and grace to your family. In fact, you can turn a meal into a sacred event if you emphasize the positive. Here are some ideas to put to use before the Tryptophan and carbohydrates begin lulling you to La-La Land:

Continue reading "Survive Thanksgiving with Grace and Joy!" »

Posted November 22, 2006 4:20 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email This

Wedding Goddess Wisdom

Some people love the idea of saying “I Do” on Halloween!

My husband once officiated a wedding at a Halloween festival in New Jersey for an audience of 400. The young couple he married was dressed like the car accident victim’s in the movie Carrie. They asked him to wear the scary mask of horror icon Jason. He was assisted by a Ghoul and a Goblin character. When he left the stage we discovered he was, in fact, the warm of up act for Billy Mummy, of Lost In Space fame, who immediately took to the stage.

We had never imagined we would ever see so many intensely professional Halloween costumes and people walking around in “character.” Except, perhaps, at a Las Vegas Halloween wedding!

Here’s a hoot of an idea for Halloween Brides and Grooms: Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, which is known for its penchant for wackiness and recreating favorite movies and themes, is offering special Halloween themed wedding packages through October 31. They were recently named by Travelocity as one of this year’s hottest “Halloween Getaways.”

As if getting married isn’t scary enough, the folks at Viva Las Vegas can transform their chapel into anything from a foggy, Gothic graveyard—complete with the Grim Reaper, candles, and creepy music—to the costumed set of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (Minister Frankenfurter’s services included).

Nothing like having a Sweet Transvestite officiate your Halloween wedding!

Find out more at: http://www.vivalasvegasweddings.com/

Continue reading "Two Las Vegas Haunts are Hot this Halloween" »

Posted October 27, 2006 7:56 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Wedding Goddess Wisdom

I heard from a Las Vegas bride who is getting a little frantic about how she will look in her wedding dress next month when she strolls down the aisle here. She feels that she is packing a few pounds too many and that she may be bulging a bit from her strapless gown.

My advice? Just walking around the Las Vegas strip is great exercise! It requires an amazing amount of footwork and movement just to get from the entrance of a casino to a coffee shop within. Just crossing the street here is an aerobic workout! Avoid the people movers, and walk the stairs whenever possible. Just put on a comfy pair of sneakers and keep moving.

One bride I know goes to the Miracle Mile at the Aladdin every night and cruises the length of it more than once for an hour to get fit for her wedding. There are something like 170 stores to window shop in, lots of interesting things to see and even a mock thunder storm every hour. It's a fun place to walk through and you can do it over and over again. If your tootsies hurt after, you can get a reflexology foot rub from one of the massage therapists who offer massages all day long.

Make your work-out a Las Vegas experience! At the same time, avoid Las Vegas classics -- such as buffets with too much salty and greasy foods, and late nights with little sleep and cocktails. Get your beauty rest and try to eat nourishing foods as you count down to the Big Day.

For some extra hints, I sought the wisdom of Elissa Hyman, one of the New York's most popular personal trainers and fitness consultants. She's founder of BRIDAL BODY PERFECT for brides of all ages, shapes and sizes. Elissa generously offers these ten top tips for looking and feeling gorgeous in your wedding dress:

Continue reading "Look Great In Your Wedding Dress" »

Posted October 25, 2006 6:47 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

Wedding Goddess Wisdom

I arrived in Las Vegas Sunday and met my hubby at The Aladdin where he was attending a conference. We are sort of having a second honeymoon, in theory, since we celebrate our second anniversary in a few days... and we honeymooned and had our marriage blessed here. It's a working second-honeymoon, though. I have been touring wedding chapels to gather stories. He's been at a conference. Tonight we are going to see Tony 'n Tina's Wedding at the Rio, just for a little more wedding cheer.

The Aladdin, our home these past few days, is in an odd state of transition. It's due to morph into a Planet Hollywood property, according to signs and staff. The rugs and hallways have this flying carpet, Persian feel to it. The rooms - the one I am in anyway -- have the Planet Hollywood vibe. Ours has a huge photo of the villains in Superman II and Pierce Brosnan as James Bond nabbing a criminal. On one wall is a shirt worn by B movie actor from a 1992 movie. Its encased in a plastic box. Some of my hubby's co-workers have reported odd masks and movie weapons in glass encasings. Do people really want to sleep with this kind of movie memorabilia?

This hotel has posters of Mike Tyson, promoting his training camp, between 11 and 1 PM, all over the place. His face is even on the hotel keys. He is supposed to be out there daily keeping himself in shape before the masses. For two days I have made my way to the big wrestling ring in the middle of the mezzanine lobby. No Mike. He's blown it off Monday and Tuesday so far. Maybe you can catch him today. So many people were disappointed by his no-show. I kept asking if he gets docked pay for not showing but no one seems to know.

There are some very cool aspects to The Aladdin...

Continue reading "Second Honeymoon in Las Vegas - Sort Of" »

Posted September 13, 2006 9:08 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This