Knowing the Market

Have you decided that you are ready to finally go a head and get married, settle down and perhaps have a family in the future? If so you are probably very happy right now and feel like nothing can come in the way of your happiness, right? Despite all of this someone around you may feel like you are rushing into this marriage a little too fast.

You should not let this cloud your joy but if you look at the average marriage today you will see that they do not last forever like a marriage is supposed to do. This is not to scare you but if your family or friends have some concerns they may have good reasons for it. If you have just gotten engaged and already have some worries and doubts about the whole thing then you are probably not ready for marriage yet.

The day you walk up the isle there should be no doubt in your mind that this is forever. Of course, nothing is ever written in stone but you need to realize that after the honeymoon is over you will encounter some miserable and hard times in your marriage and at times it will seem like the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. You may not believe it now but those times will come.

These are the times when you will find out how strong your love is and how devoted you are to each other. Each time you manage to get thru one of these times you will find that your love and marriage has grown stronger. It is also during episodes like this that a lot of marriages end and people go their separate ways. You do not want that to happen to you, do you?

A lot of couples, when they get engaged, decide to have pre-marriage counseling in order to learn what they can expect being married. This can be a very good idea for many couples before they head to the altar and some people do decide that they are not compatable enough to enter into marriage with each other. If nothing else at least they found out before saying, I do.

Marriage counseling can also be good when you are going thru hard times in your marriage, it can help both of you work out your problems and resentments you may have built up against your spouse. These are just a few words of advice and something to consider before getting married. Make sure this is the one you are willing to take both the good times and the bad.

There’s a ton of options when it comes to selecting wedding favors that relate to beverages. Perhaps you want everyone to have a fancy wedding goblet similar to the one you drank from. Maybe you want everyone to have a heavy personalized mug for warm beverages. Whatever it is you decide to give as wedding favors, we’re here to make suggestions and give you an estimate for what you’re about to spend.

Personalized Sodas There are great little favors for everyone: non-drinkers, kids, and the person who collects everything! The greatest thing about these favors is that they can either be drank or kept as keepsakes. Labels for these sodas usually display the name of the bride and groom and their wedding date. Cost estimates approximately one hundred dollars for 100 labeled sodas. It’s a very affordable option.

Miniature Champagne Bottles Get these miniature champagne bottles dressed and ready to party! Each bottle fills approximately one glass. If you can find bottle covers to add to your bottle, great! Dress your bottle up in a tuxedo and print your name and wedding date on the back of each tuxedo. This is a great option for couples having a smaller wedding, as it’s slightly costly. Approximate cost: twelve dollars per person.

Miniature Wine Bottles Great for Adult guests of your wedding. These little bottles fill one wine glass. You can make your own labels on your home computer to save some money. An extra cute touch? Put the ingredients of the wine: love, laughter, friendship and honesty. This wine is best aged to perfection. Bottles can be purchased in bul from a local liquor store. A box of four is usually cost approximately seven dollars.

Coffee Great wedding favors for adult coffee-lovers. Wrap flavored coffee in tulle, add a chocolate dipped spoon, add a ribbon, and viola! The perfect wedding favor. Average cost per person (including coffees and materials) is approximately three dollars.

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans Put a small blend of coffee beans into a sachet or box. Add a colored ribbon with your name and wedding date printed on it. Each box can read: “the perfect blend.” Cost: About three dollars per person.

Coffee Mugs Purchase coffee mugs in the color of the bride’s maid’s dresses. Have the bride and groom’s name (or photograph) printed on each mug with their wedding date. Add a chocolate covered spoon and some ribbon for an elegant touch. Cost: Approximately six dollars per person.

If you’re getting married, a Bridal Show is a great place to get started. Since 1996, I have attended or participated in over 150 Bridal Shows, and I thought I would pass on some tips to you, to make your trip a little easier. You can find local Bridal Shows being held anywhere from malls to hotels, convention centers and wedding facilities. You can expect to see anywhere from 10 to over 100 wedding vendors, and every single one of them is competing for your business. What to do? How to start? What to bring?

If possible, find out which vendors will be participating in the show before you attend. This will help you map out your plan of attack. Knowing who will be there in advance, as well as maybe having a layout of the show itself, you can seek out the vendors you really want to talk to, and those that aren’t so important to you.

Wear comfortable shoes and leave your coat in the car. Many shows do not offer coat check and it can become quite a burden to lug your coat, your purse, your brochures, and everything else around! This is why you need to…see next item!

Bring someone with you! Bring your Mother, a Bridesmaid, and yes, your fiancé may even enjoy himself! They can help you with collecting information and would be happy you included them in the planning process! As for your fiancé? Just tell him that he can win free stuff and eat free cake!

Other than some cake samples, and possibly appetizers, most Bridal Shows will not have food or drink available to purchase. Make sure you eat before you go, and bring a beverage.

Don’t take too many people with you. They’ll wander off and you’ll spend all your time trying to keep everyone together instead of focusing on your goals for the day.

Bring address labels. I recommend printing out labels on your home computer with your name, address, phone number, email address and wedding date. I also recommend opening a free email account that is designated strictly for all the wedding info you will receive and then cancel them email account after you have booked all of your vendors! You can also rent a P.O. Box to handle all the wedding brochures and mailings you will receive, and then cancel the PO Box when you no longer want the mailings. However, just remember, these vendors will use the information you provide for them - if you don’t want sales pitch phone calls or mailings, simply do not give out your phone number or address! You may miss a great deal though!

Bring the following items: pen, notebook, date book, checkbook, credit card and a large tote bag to carry everything in. Many vendors offer special pricing if you book with them and leave a deposit with them the day of the show. Still not sure if this vendor is truly the one you want? Ask if they would be willing to extend the special price to you for any length of time after the show. Most vendors won’t have a problem working with you. If they say no, it makes you wonder why you need to do it RIGHT THERE AND THEN! Say thank you, and pass on by. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

Before you place that deposit, be 100% sure that you have read and agree to all the details on their contract concerning the description of what it is you are signing up for and their policies. What sounds like a great deal won’t be so great if you later find out the DJ takes an hour break and your cake doesn’t come with a stand!

If you plan on attending the Fashion show portion of the day, make sure you arrive at least an hour early. Seating is often first come, first serve, and if you’ve brought all 12 of your Bridesmaids along, you want to guarantee good seats for everyone!

If attending the Fashion Show isn’t so important to you, then use that time to visit with the vendors. Since the majority of brides will be watching the show, you will have a better chance to actually talk to a vendor and it will be a much quieter atmosphere.

If you are provided with a “Bride” sticker, don’t be embarrassed to wear it! It can become confusing for vendors to identify everyone that attends, and if they know you are the bride, you are more likely to get special treatment!

When filling out any contest entries or door prize drawing slips, print clearly! Who would want to miss out on winning a free limo for their wedding because no one could read your phone number?

The best place to take notes is on the actual brochure handed out by each vendor. That way you connect a face to your notes, to your brochure, and it will be easier to remember when you make your follow up calls.

Most shows will charge a nominal fee for attendance. Make sure you pre-register if the option is available, and don’t be too embarrassed to call the company hosting the show to see if they offer any discounts on admission.

Enjoy yourself! It’s just a bridal show! Nothing HAS to be set in stone that day. Many of the bigger shows will be crowded and noisy - don’t let this deter you! Use this time to gather information and enjoy any of the special offers extended to you. You are the Bride; you make the rules when dealing with vendors. It’s YOUR day, not theirs!

Charity Plaster is the Owner of A Charmed Event, a wedding and event planning company. She is a Certified Wedding Coordinator, creator of a local Wedding Workshop and licensed Officiant who has helped hundreds of couples bring their dream weddings to life.

http://www.acharmedevent.com

Have you ever had to give a wedding speech? As the groom or best man?

Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms
and a panic attack!

Not a very pleasant experience. And yet, I’m sure your wedding speech has the potential to be a great success because 90 % of a typical audience want the speaker to succeed.

Yet according to the Book of Lists, speaking in public is one of our greatest fears.

Much of this anxiety is due to a lack of confidence in writing and preparing a speech rather than in the delivery.

What are the secrets of giving a great wedding speech?

Here are 10 tips for giving a great wedding speech:

1. Have a plan and set some objectives & outcomes.
There is nothing worse than not knowing what you want to achieve. Do you
want to be funny, thank the caterers or touch the emotions of your guests? Before anything work out what you want to achieve.

2. Have a formal structure - beginning, middle and end.
Audiences love structure and the best speeches stick to this tried and true
rule. Have a welcome (especially acknowledging those who have travelled a long way to be at the wedding), have three personal stories (eg how you met your wife) in the middle and an end (eg thanking and toasting the bridesmaids).

For Example:

Greeting/Welcome (acknowledge special guests)

Personal Story #1 - how we met

Personal Story #2 - most memorable moment together and why

Personal Story #3 - funny habits and why I love her

Something nice about the future

Call to action: Toast Bridesmaids

3. Avoid having too much to say.
Hands up those that are guilty of this sin. I know I am. Keep your speech short at a wedding, between 5 and 7 minutes.

4. Keep it Positive.
Keep the content of your speech positive, avoid negative comments about previous wives or girlfriends or other ‘black sheep’ family members. Remember it is a celebration.

5. Research your speech using personal stories.
Personal stories help connect with an audience. From your deep well of life reflect on three events that demonstrate how much your care for and love your wife.

6. Keep the personal stories short.
Keep these very short and use them to demonstrate a point. Try and take people to that moment in time by describing the place, situation and even what time of day and what the weather was like. Paint the picture and take people back to that moment.

7. Have a strong opening and closing.
People remember the opening - first impressions count! The closing is important as it should reinforce the key message you want the audience to go away with in their head after they have heard the presentation. Ending with a ‘call to action’ can be a powerful way to get your audience to act on your message. In the wedding speech the call to action is easy, ask people to stand, then charge their glasses and toast the bridesmaids.

8. Avoid alcohol until after the speech.
You need to be on the ball. Save the celebrations until after your speech.

9. Keep eye contact and use simple notes.
Use hand cards with key points. Avoid reading a speech and keep eye contact with your audience.

10.Practice and Rehearse.
Practice the speech or at least get some feedback from someone you trust. Recording and listening back to a presentation is the fastest way to improve your skills.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom’s blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.

Hotel Corallo is a few minutes far, from the town centre of Sorrento and it is situated on the cliff above the Marina of Sant’Agnello, with on front the whole Neapolitan bay. It enjoys a charming and quite position with large sunny terraces laden of flowers.
The Gulf of Naples with the sky reflecting on the sea, it seems to enter every room and makes for every Guest a special fascination.

ITS STORY
It was built on the remains of the Nymphs Roman Temple situated next to the historical residence of the Capuchin monks. An elegant patrician house which at the end of the 1920s, became hotel and the name was “Cappuccini”.
The building was kept in its original style. Soon it became a meeting point for Intellectuals and Artists and in 1930 gave hospitality to the writer Luigi Pirandello.
During the following years , the name moved in “Hotel Rex” and in 1960 “Hotel Corallo” definitively

LE TERRACES
On the spacious and elegant terraces, full of flowers, you can relax with a good book or with a drink prepared with great attention by Peppe .
Only the sounds of the seagulls and the voices of the far bathers, they will disturb you. From the balconies of the rooms you admire the splendid Sorrentine Peninsula, from the ruins of Villa Pollio, of “Regina Giovanna”, to Punta Gradelle.
It seems as if you could touch the Bay of Naples from Pompei to Capo Miseno and even Ischia.

THE ROOMS
Every historical residence, dating back to the last century, offers a variety of different rooms in that style. The Corallo has 60 rooms and almost have a balcony with terrace on the cliff above the sea.
The Clients, can spend a large part of their stay, admiring the flowers and Mediterranean vegetation or the sea.

THE SEA - Beach and Pool
The nearby Marinella beach attracts many tourists to its volcanic sands.
Many Clients who love the quite and splendid sights of Capri, Ischia, Procida, Positano, Amalfi and the tiny Galli Islesthey like to spend long lazy days in the sun, either on their own boat or as an organized excursions, sailing the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The use of the nearby pool can be booked at room confirmation

THE RESTAURANT
The traditional Neapolitan specialities of Chef Antonio, change, accordingly to the season.
The Mediterranean style dishes are light, fragrant, tasty and leave you feeling healthy even after a sumptuosus meal. International dishes are also offered on request.
The prestigious wine list, which also changes seasonally, is looked after by Sig. Angelo, who for many years has used his knowledge of Guests tastes to ensure that only the best Italian wines, only, are offered.

If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Sorrento, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of Bed and Breakfast in Rome and Hotels in Florence, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Hotels all over Tuscany

Live music means involvement

A group of wedding guests usually comprises of two separate family groups that are only just beginning to get to know each other. Even within each family, there will perhaps be members who seldom see each other. The bride and groom will probably have separate sets of friends that have not yet had a chance to become really intimate. There’s no two ways about it, in such a situation, live music is an excellent ice-breaker.

A tremendous party involves a great shared release of energy. To complete your special day in an unforgettable way, you’ll want everyone on the dance-floor, laughing and dancing.

Live Music … centre stage

The guys on the stage are going to lead your party. No matter what the style of music, an infectious sense of fun is an essential ingredient in getting a party going. If the band is having fun on stage, so will you on the dance-floor.

You need a band that wants to party as much as you do!

As in any human situation, a happy band of musicians is a well-looked-after one. Carefully think through the logistics of the event beforehand. As a rule of thumb, the larger the band, the longer the set-up time. A six-piece pop-band with a lighting rig can take up to two hours or more to set-up. Make sure the band have enough time to get their equipment in position. If the band has to set-up early and then wait while the wedding breakfast takes place, make sure that you provide a comfortable place for them to go … and that they, too, have some refreshments (a plate of sandwiches and some drinks will usually suffice).

Including perhaps an hour or two’s travelling to and from the gig, then the set-up and break-down, a wedding performance is a long day for the band. To get the very best from them at this important time for you, it’s in your interest to make sure they are comfortable and well cared for.

Let your hair down and boogie

So which way do you want to party the night away? There are lots of options. Hot rhythm is the key to getting everyone out of their seats. Evoke Hollywood glitz and glamour with Swing Jazz, Sinatra-style. A steel band gets the party going with a Caribbean holiday feel. Samba the night away with Brazilian-style Latin Jazz. Jump and jive with R’n'B and Boogie-Woogie, a la Jools Holland. Get into a really funky groove with a Soul/Disco/Funk band. Everyone enjoys the Pop Classics of the last five decades. Or you could settle for a traditional Irish-style family ceilidh. The list is endless.

Jennie Evans runs Hop Till You Drop, a company that provides music of all styles and types for weddings, birthday parties and corporate events in the UK. To find out more about all aspects of wedding music planning and to get up-to-date info on live music for weddings in the UK, why don’t you check out Hop Till You Drop Wedding Music Services ? Hop Till You Drop is a company run by musicians, so you can be sure that all the important aspects of your live wedding music will be attended to by knowledgeable, experienced professionals.

As someone who appreciates only the best in life, I’m on the hunt for some of the best, expertly crafted jewelry in the Inland Empire. My insatiable appetite for only the finer things in life has netted me an expansive plot of land with a luxurious mansion dwelling on it, a fleet of luxury vehicles including rare models that no one making under 10 million a year would rightfully own, along with several yachts, depending on my sailing mood, and other extremely expensive personal items. I have, what some might correctly assume, is a voracious appetite for showpiece rich people items. My aforementioned mansion is filled with the softest furs from the rarest of endangered species lying around simply for my hole-hearted belief that I can, and by all means, should, have everything that’s normally not attainable by regular means.

My wife, for instance, loves mission style custom jewlery. She just turned 19 and is easily the most beautiful female in the eastern seaboard. I buy her everything, including the finest pair of plastic attractions and personal trainers so as to be heathly and fit until her sell by date comes around if you know what I mean. I’m sure you all do. Anyways, jewlery is her thing, as well as mine, and we found a special custom jeweler designer that will adhere to whatever it is you design with diamonds, rings, pendants and other items.

If you have decided on a flower girl for your wedding, it is time to choose her dress, which can actually be a fun time for her and you. After all, next to the bride, the flower girl will be getting a lot of the ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahh’s’.

When choosing a flower girl’s dress, begin by checking out boutiques that specialize in children’s wedding wear. A regular wedding shop may be able to help, however usually these shops will only adjust adult measurements to fit a small child, which could cause the dress to look disproportionate to the child’s body frame.

Although the bride may already have a design in mind for choosing the flower girl’s dress, remember that the parents will be paying for it, unless otherwise arranged. Let the flower girl’s mom and the flower girl, herself give opinions to the dress you are looking at and be sure it is in a price range they can afford.

Remember to keep in mind that little girls grow fast, when choosing your flower girl’s dress. If you are ordering the dress six months in advance, you may want to add a few inches to the dress, which can then be altered the week before the wedding. Just like with any dress, it will be easier to take it in than adding material to a dress that is too small.

Little girls like to feel like princesses in their dresses. So consider a smaller make to your wedding gown when choosing a flower girl’s dress. Traditional flower girl dresses are usually white with full, ruffle skirts underneath to give them the ‘bridal’ look. Flower accented dresses are also popular among flower girls. Use hoop slips to give them that princess look. Keep in mind the material you are selecting. A soft, silky feel will leave your flower girl less fidgety versus and rougher material that will make them itch and feeling uncomfortable.

When choosing your flower girl’s dress, do not forget to find matching accents for her hair. Decide if you want her hair up or down. With either, adding baby’s breath and ribbons will give her a beautiful look of enchantment. Also let her parent’s know what type of shoe you would like her to wear with her dress. If you choose a shorter dress, close toe or an open sandal, depending on the time of year, would be appropriate. If the dress is long and flowing, covering her feet, think about letting her wear white slippers. This will ensure her comfort and make the event more enjoyable for everyone.

Flower girls add a cute touch to any wedding. Let her carry a beautiful bouquet or throw flower pedals down the aisle as she walks, which is usually the tradition of her role. If the child you choose is too small to walk, decorate a red wagon in a lot of white lace and flowers and let an older child, or bridesmaid pull the wagon down the aisle.

Kirsten Hawkins is an event planner from Nashville, TN. Visit www.wedding411.net/ for more event planning tips, strategies, and resources.

Setting your wedding date is an important and possibly difficult task. Your wedding date will depend on a variety of factors.

Wedding Planning Time

One of the first and most important questions you might ask yourself is: How much time do I need to plan my wedding? Are you the most organized person you know? Do you have any experience planning events? Are you going to hire a wedding planner? On average, the time between engagement and the wedding day is 12-18 months.

Commitments

You want to make sure your wedding date does not conflict with other important dates such as graduations, birthdays, or any other possible significant events that might prevent your friends and family members from attending your wedding. It is good to discuss the potential dates with some of the most important members of your wedding party.

Holidays

It is generally a good idea to avoid wedding dates set for holidays such as Christmas, the 4th of July. Valentine’s Day is an exception to this rule. Valentine’s Day is the only holiday that’s a great day to get married. Many people are on vacation around the holidays, and it may be too much to ask someone to cancel their yearly vacation for your wedding.

Weekend or Weekday

Although it makes perfect sense to get married on a weekend day, you should be prepared to compete with most other brides and grooms for vendors and venues. If you plan a weekend wedding, you might have to schedule your church, reception, caterer, and other vendors as much as one year before your wedding day. Saturdays during the busiest wedding months are the most difficult to plan for since many brides are competing for the same reception and ceremony venues.

Wedding Day Expense

Popular days might be not only more difficult to book, but they might also be more expensive. Vendors might charge a higher price for more competitive dates such as Saturdays during the summer months. If you get married during the fall or winter, you may be able to get much better deals.

George Meszaros www.sweet-reflections.com

“All things were created by Him and for Him…and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16b-17a). Having a successful marriage first requires you to understand what God had in mind for marriage. After all, If you want to understand the purpose behind an invention, you consult the One who invented it, right!

Since marriage is God’s creation, He is in the saving marriages business. God created marriage for three very specific reasons, just like He created you, for very specific reasons. Our lives are more satisfying when we cooperate with God in fulfilling our purposes. Marriage is no exception…

First, you’ve probably learned that men and women were made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). But, did you know that within the marriage relationship husbands and wives also bear the image of God? They do this by demonstrating love and faithfulness to each other…like God does with us. You see, God covenants with His people, husbands and wives covenant to each other and God. So marriage was created to reflect God’s faithfulness in the world.

The second reason God created marriage was to meet human needs. Needs for food, shelter and clothing as well as needs for love, acceptance, intimacy, and faithfulness. In that way marriage is a picture to the world of how God provides for His people.

Marriage is God’s conduit for love. It was designed to be a safe harbor where a man and a woman could be totally naked and unashamed. A place where they could experience the unconditional love and acceptance of God through each other.

Third, marriage is one of the ways God expands His Kingdom and accomplishes His work in the earth. He commanded men and women to go forth and multiply, be fruitful and take dominion over the earth(Genesis 1:28).
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to do as God commanded when you are at odds with your spouse. Conflict drains our emotional and creative energies. Sadly, many husbands and wives feel like they are sleeping with the enemy instead of with their comrade in arms.

Marriage was designed with unity in mind. When a husband and wife are on the same page, so to speak, they are reflecting the unity of the Godhead. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Unity is so important that Jesus told us it would be a great sign to the world testifying that He truly is the Son of God (John 17:23).

Okay, now you have the general idea God had in mind when He designed marriage, but saving marriage requires a plan.

First, you need to decide, once and for all, are you going to commit to honoring God through your marriage. Are you going to do it God’s way? Are you going to trust His word, His plan and His design? If you answered yes, let’s move on…

If you’re making a plan to improve or save your marriage you need to start out on the right foot. That means getting right with God and your spouse first! To get right requires humility. It requires taking responsibility for the negative, sinful things you have contributed to your marriage without justifying yourself or blaming your spouse.

Confession of sin can be a turning point in our lives. It means we are in agreement with God about our sin and we are choosing to turn away from it. When we do this, God’s word promises to give us the power to accomplish that. Some of the things you may want to consider confessing are: the ways in which you have not trusted and honored God, the ways you have not obeyed His word, the consequences of your choices to you, your spouse and your marriage.

Exercising humility is a crucial part of any saving marriages plan. Making confession of sin a regular part of your marriage will keep you humble and help to maintain emotional intimacy. Apologies go a long way in keeping our hearts pliable and loving towards our spouse and God.

The next step in the saving marriages blueprint is making a plan for knowing your spouse’s most important needs. You also must become intentional about meeting those needs. Your spouse will feel more connected and in love with you when you are meeting his/her most important emotional needs.

Regular prayer is necessary for a successful marriage. Pray that God would show His love and faithfulness to your spouse through you. Prayer is how we experience the personal relationship we have with God through Christ. It is also where we avail ourselves to the grace of God. Therefore, your plan for saving marriage must include daily prayer for your spouse and your ability to love them.

A marriage that reflects God’s image is a safe marriage. God is our refuge, therefore your marriage should be a refuge for both you and your spouse. A safe relationship is one where both husband and wife feel accepted even if there are disagreements. A plan for saving marriages needs to include a plan for safety. Neither spouse should ever have to worry about the proverbial nuclear bomb being dropped on them!

That’s why a plan for saving marriages must address conflict. Your marriage can be free from condemnation, contempt, critical attitudes and defensiveness. It’s your choice! It can be a place where you are quick to take responsibility for your own actions and slow to point your finger of blame. It is not, however, a marriage that is free from conflict. But, yours can be a marriage where both parties fight fair.

Finally, your saving marriages plan needs to include specific goals, goals that are written down. After all, God wrote down His plan…we call it the Bible! Isn’t that a good enough reason for you to write down your plan for your marriage. Written goals are powerful. They help move a plan into motion.

Keep in mind, your goals need to be consistent with God’s purpose for your marriage. Your goals will help you stay on track and give more purpose, meaning and direction to your marriage and family life. You may want to have goals in the following areas: Spiritual (we will study and pray together regularly), parenting (we will always be unified when disciplining the children), finances ( we will decide on a budget and stick to it), health (we will exercise regularly and eat right), communication (we will speak lovingly and respectfully to one another).

Well, that should be enough to get you started developing your own personal saving marriages plan. Remember, the Creator of marriage is in the business of saving marriages. Put your hope in the Lord for with Him is unfailing love and full redemption (Psalm 130:7).

Jean LeStourgeon, MA, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Palm Bay, Florida. She also operates the website Christian Counseling Online where you can find lots more information and tools on topics like marriage problems and marriage advice.