The Jewish View of Marriage

Image found at www.Aish.com

For another, entirely personal reason, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge was browsing the website of Aish.com. Aish.com has become the world's largest Jewish content website. Their goal is to give every Jewish person the opportunity to discover their heritage in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect.

I happened to come across an article by a Rabbi Dan Silverman entitled "The Jewish View of Marriage".

As a Wedding Planner (and a Jewish one at that), this article spoke to me because it's not about the Jewish view of planning a wedding (although there are many books about that including a great one called "The New Jewish Wedding Wedding" by Anita Diamant).

To me, this article is about what marriage is about and how to try and live those ideals together with "your chosen one". It's about what the goals of marriage really are; sharing love, living and supporting your goals together and having a common destination. With that right person, even with ups and downs, Life together IS a beautiful journey and every year of marriage a noble destination.

Whether you are Jewish or not, I feel the lessons are very universal so I hope you take what inspires you from this article and some of the other posts you may find useful from this website on dating and love and marriage.

This is one excerpt that I particularly love (as I come upon 10 years of marriage).

"Which brings us to a shocker: True love comes after marriage. The Torah says that Isaac took Rebecca into his tent and he loved her (Genesis 24:67). Love should grow continuously as your appreciation of your spouse grows.

A friend of mine was sitting with his father and said to him, "Dad, after five years of marriage, I think I finally understand what love is."

The father said, "Wait till you're married 25 years, then you'll understand what love is."

The grandfather was also in the room and overheard this exchange. He told them: "Wait till you're married 50 years. Then you'll really understand what love is."

Celebrate Today and Every Day with Love, Life & Style (and with those you Love)!
Tracey

The "OG's"-Beautiful Example of Celebrating a Lifetime of Love

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Yesterday, Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge was watching the Today Show and caught this segment about Barbara and Harry Cooper, also known as "The OG's (Original Grandparents)."

Barbara (93) and Harry Cooper (98) have been sweethearts since their eyes met on an LA tennis court in 1937 and have been married for 72 years. They are still "Crazy in Love" with one another!

They still kiss (all the time), go out for chocolate sundae dates, to the movies and they have their own website that they began as a way to entertain and educate their grandchildren. Sure enough, that took off to where they are now internet stars being documented by their grand-daughters and they have their own song.

This story, and when I reflect back on my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary a few years ago, it brings home the true meaning of the wedding vows that I am honored to be a part of hearing at my clients' weddings. They are important words, they mean something. They represent the beginning of sharing a lifetime with another human being built on love, mutual respect for one another (and their loved ones).

The vows you say to one another on your wedding day may seem to come quite easily surrounded by pretty flowers and a great party. But I do encourage you (as your clergy will in your ceremony) to really grasp the meaning of the words you speak to each other as you say them.

Living those vows, through the days, the years and the decades; "through thick and thin, in sickness and in health" and all the other things life throws our way is not easy.

"Cutie & Pop Pop" as Barbara and Harry are called, Ben and Sylvia Weinstock who I had the pleasure to see spin on the dance floor at Engage '09 Encore, my parents and some of the 29 couples I had the honor of coordinating the renewal of their vows at the Beth Sholom Wedding Gala last month (that event to be blogged soon) know their meaning.

Whether you are celebrating your wedding this week, this year or celebrating your first, 10th, 25th, 50th or 72nd, wedding anniversary, I wish for all of you a lifetime together that is as wonderful and filled with the same passion and love and spirit as this special couple exemplifies.

(And yes, I cried when I watched this).

May you celebrate today and every day with Love, Life & Style!!
Tracey

A few more links for Barbara and Harry: Read a fun interview with them at SHALOM LIFE.com and you can follow them on Facebook too!

Do you have any stories about your parents or grandparents and a long lasting marriage that are inspiring your wedding vows? I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment and say hello.

Happy Valentines Day-Get the Message?!

Photo originally uploaded on Flickr by "Acordova"

This is based on Current Marketing Campaign for Dentyne Gum

Happy Valentine's Day...

From Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada. LOVE is definitely in the air today in "The Wedding Capital of the World"!

I hope that all of you, my very dear "diary" readers who have shown me and my blog such love and support by coming to visit, commenting, etc plus all of my friends and new colleagues in the wedding and events industry, have a wonderful and happy "hearts day" today! 

And, as much as I REALLY LOVE all the amazing Social Media and connections I've made online lately, I'm going to take a cue from the message from the latest Dentyne Gum marketing campaign which I think is so smart & clever. 

I'm going to "Power Down, Pucker Up and Make Some Face Time" with the love of my life, my real-time, real-life Valentine, Mr. Moore:)! I encourage you to share "the Original Instant Message", a kiss or ?, with the real life, off-line Valentine(s) in your life. Don't forget to give your Mom, your dad, brother, sister and friends some "Face Time" if you are lucky enough to have them close by. 

And Brides and Grooms: Whatever stage of planning you are in, but especially those of you now immersed in the online wedding universe of website, blogs, chat rooms, Face books, and twittering; put the mouse down, turn the computer off and celebrate love for love's sake with your guy for the day. Actually try and make a point of having a "Valentine's Day" break regularly during the planning. It's good for you:)

If you are on or Near the Strip in Vegas this weekend here are a few Vegas Valentine's "Face Time" ideas....

• Enjoy a Romantic Gondola Ride at The Venetian Resort. 
  
• "All You Really Need is LOVE" at the "BeatlesLove" show by "Cirque de Soleil" at Mirage.
• Head over to the Bellagio Resort to indulge in many heart's delights from the beautiful Conservatory to sharing a divine dessert crepe or hand made chocolate at Jean-Phillipe Pattiserie. Marvel at the chocolate fountain. Then, stop by the Fontana Bar, enjoy some great music and get a first class seat to view the romantic Bellagio Fountains (still one of my most favorite things to see in Las Vegas).
  
• A very sexy, intimate and seductive evening of dining and entertainment at Cat House in the LUXOR
• Serious "Face Time" gets underway at sexy, sultry nightclubs like TAO, TRYST, XS, PURE Tabu LAX and Noir Bar 
• Stay in Order Room Service (don't forget the bubbly & chocolate dipped strawberries), and catch some romantic comedies on TV.
  

Wishing you all LOTS OF LOVE AND LUCK this February 14th. 

Tracey X0

Cell Phones & Wedding Cake-Not a Sweet Combination!

I saw this post on GeekSugar.com today and felt compelled to comment.

I am a self confessed gadget junkie. I have a desktop, a laptop, a Blackberry, an iPod (planning on buying an iPod Touch this summer to feed my new You Tube addiction), etc., etc...

I think technology is the best thing to happen to weddings and couples planning weddings in the 21st Century.

Technology has the potential to bring us together with all of these amazing resources and inventions and what is more about bringing people together than a wedding, right?

But on the other hand, this wedding cake topper you see above represents to me the very flip (or maybe it should be "flip phone") ugly reality of where technology can also take us; alienating inter-personal relationships, social skills devolving, and communicating with machines instead of with each other because it might seem easier and safer. It is sad to think that these very things that have the positive potential to bring us closer, if we let it get out of hand, can tear us apart.

I think Emily Post would have a fit if she were alive to see this.

This cake topper actually makes me angry to be honest! Just look at this "couple" if you can call them that. They are not even looking at each other and are self involved and talking to other people and this is supposed to go on top of their cake as a symbol of what THEIR relationship is to others who will see it?

I don't even see it as a joke for those who will say they are just expressing and personalizing their techie geek side on their wedding day.

I am all for personalizing your wedding too! You can express your love of tech though in so many other ways-with edible cookie favors that look like your favorite cell phone with a picture of the two of you, snuggled in a hug together for example. Or put together an awesome, customized wedding website. Heck, even a second cake could be made to look like your phones.

I understand and sincerely appreciate the concept of "to each their own", but on a day that is supposed to be about two people "coming together", love, communication and being "as ONE", this cake topper just does not CUT IT in this wedding planner's opinion.

I really think that the people who are making and marketing this item got this one totally wrong.

I would love to hear your opinions on this.

Thanks in advance for chiming in and have a Stylish Day!!

Very Vegas Valentine's Day Wishes to You!

HAPPY "DAY AFTER" VALENTINE'S DAY FROM LAS VEGAS!!

Well, due to still feeling a wee bit under the weather, I totally spaced on getting a Valentine wishes post up on the 14th:(

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and shared it with your sweetie and all those people you love and who love you back (like Mom & Dad, your sister or brother, friends, etc.).

My day suddenly got a little brighter when a certain wonderful husband flashed something sparkly and glinty in my eye when he got home tonight and slipped it on my right ring finger:) What a guy!!

And of course, "My Love Don't Cost a Thing" as JLo would say (wonder if she got her Valentine's day present yesterday?), but it sure was sweet!

My wish and hope for all of you is for you and your sweetie to feel like every day is Valentines' Day.

All the best!

Love & Relationships-When the diamond turns to coal?

I love my new friend Samantha Goldberg of Gold Events in New Jersey for her incredible candor and "tell it like it is" attitude!

Samantha is host of her own wedding planning podcast "It's Your Wedding: Get Real with Samantha Goldberg" on the Wedding Podcast Network and a favorite star of "Whose Wedding is it Anyway" on the Style Network.

Samantha's "get real" attitude extends to her blog which I love to read, as she often really challenges brides to remember that as wonderful as a wedding day and celebration is, there is a real life relationship that will still be there the next day and, G-d willing for years to come. You know, "first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the rest of your life" kind of reality:)!

Earlier this month, Samantha posted a piece on her blog about grooms cheating during the engagement and should the bride give the ring back?

Talk about a reality check!!! That post generated TONS of email to her and she said some of the letters just made her jaw drop to the floor as she mentioned on her latest post.

Samantha is going to talk about this HOT topic & some other spicy relationship and wedding issues on her podcast show this coming Wednesday night, January 31 at 9:00 PM EST. You can listen to the show live at this link. You have to download a small program to join the show to text or call in live.

So why am I posting this? Because I feel, like Samantha, that there is more to the experience of marriage than a wedding day (which is wonderful!) to eat cake and dance and get presents.

Marriage is a serious institution and it should be about two people who are ready to share their lives together entering into a relationship to grow and nuture one another, do great things together, have children (if they wish and G-d willing are able to) and be there for one another as they grow older. It should be something that two people look forward to and not dread.

Marriage is not just something you decide to do because you feel forced into it by peer pressure ("Well gee, all our friends are"), or your girlfriend is pushing you into it.

So guys, if you aren't ready, keep your money for the dang ring and don't pop the question! Telling your girlfriend you aren't ready may not be pleasant but breaking the heart of your fiance by cheating on her after asking her to marry you is just cowardly, immature and the lowest of the low. That is just W.R.ON.G. guys! You won't get any sympathy from me and HELL no, you don't deserve to get the ring back!

And ladies, if your intended isn't really your true heart and soul's intended then thank G-d you found out now. If you want to give the ring back, fine, if you don't, then dont! So take that diamond that turned into a figurative lump of coal and turn it back into diamonds for you if it means it will give you closure and release.

Once upon a time this wedding planner (who is now married to her true soulmate and love of her life) was married to another man.

When the marriage sadly ended after giving it a hell of a go for 9 years, I KEPT THE RING!!! Trust me, I deserved it! I traded it in for a fabulous cocktail ring I found years later that I wanted with my birthstone in it:)

Don't forget to tune into the podcast and have a Stylish Day!