This has created a wealth of business in India as most marriages are either arranged between families or through personal adds. As a result, the partner-to-be has his or her prospective partner investigated to assure that they are who they claim to be. Although there has been an increase in wealth and modern conveniences in India, it remains very traditional. Many of the marriages that occur in India are not love matches but arranged marriages. People are finding that many of the ads do not disclose the number of divorces or affairs one may have had.

Typical ads will state that a woman is decent, pure, homely, and god fearing which are all good characteristics in Indian culture and mean that the woman will be good in the home. A man’s ad may state that they are religious, warm and caring, and a member of a wealthy family. This would translate to mean that they would be a good provider for the family. Investigators are finding that some people are the exact opposite of their ads.

As the India economy continues to grow it will be interesting to see if this trends grows with it as modern growth and deep rooted traditional beliefs collide.

When looking for THE dress, it is important to remember a few things….First, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to try on many, many dresses from a variety of different shops and boutiques. Trust me, you don’t want to rush into a decision and end up with something Britney Spears wore at her many weddings. Second, try on a wide variety of different styles. A friend of mine always talked about wearing a dress that was off the shoulder but when she tried on some dresses she found that she actually like one with long lace sleeves. Third, have a clear idea of the time of year you are getting married. Summer can be hot and winter can be cold. Bottom line is you want to be comfortable. Lastly, if you are looking for a bargin, consider some of the annual sales like the Running of the Brides in Boston or some bargin stores like David’s Bridal. There are so many knock-offs these days. You can still get the dress you dream about without breaking your budget.

Hey! You may even like it for your own wedding song!

I think there are two critical lessons from this new show.  One, not every dress is right for each bride. Sometimes what you think will look great on you may not fit your body structure.  Two, remember to stay calm. Every person involved in helping a bride find the “it” dress want the nest for the bride. No matter how daunting the task of finding a dress is, you will find the dress that is right for you. Allow yourself the time to discover your dress.

Check your local listings for days and times.

As you may guess, the ending is a happy one but the adventure in getting to the ending was laugh out loud enjoyment for this married couple. There are so many movies out there about marriage and love. In my opinion, it is the adventure as you grow as a couple and reach the aisle that can be the most interesting and the most memorable. How many people love to tell the story about how they met? Even my grandparents who recently celebrated their 62^nd wedding anniversary still light up as they tell their story of their adventure in New York City. Take picture, write down your story, and share it with the world….who doesn’t like a good love story?love

I think that this is a great idea. So often, the impression of the 7th year of marriage is when it typically crumbles. Congratulations to LeAnn and Dean on celebrating and reflecting on their seven years together and looking forward to their future with the family and friends who support them!

Check out the entire article and pictures featured in the September 15, 2008 issue. Photo taken by Joe Buissink.