Sunday, June 10, 2007

Jewels befitting a Royal Brides stature 6/10/2007by Kevin Nelson

The "Sanggul Lintang Brunei" is a paired set of jewellery, composed of several loose pieces inspired by the precious items worn by kings and queens of the past, which is worn by both the bride and groom. In the past, brides wore the Sanggul Lintang Brunei during the Bersanding ceremony. The Sanggul Lintang Brunei reflects influences from various South-east Asian cultures, and was initially worn by Bruneian aristocrats. But with the availability of industrial innovations, imitation pieces could be made easily and the use of such accessories became widespread around the 1980s. The best metal for creating these magnificent pieces is "Emas Brunei", which is a light and durable alloy of mostly 18-carat gold. Gold leaf is then added to increase the lustre of the metal and the accessories are studded with precious gems to enhance their beauty. The wearing of Sanggul Lintang Brunei begins with the placement of the "Sarbang" onto the bride's forehead and the "Gegatar" on her nape. The bride's hair is then arranged so that it forms a shape likened to a "pandan core". The rest of the items, "Tajok", "Ayam-ayam" and "Karang Tambusa Berpuput Amas", are carefully arranged in the bride's hair before fragrant jasmine flowers are used to anchor the hairstyle. "Sisir Malur" is then placed beneath the Ayam-ayam, and more jasmine flowers are added in order to support the circlet of "Bunga Goyang". The "Mudapun" is worn around the bride's neck, and her arms are decorated with "Sindat" and "Galang Pengaluan". The bangles are hollow and filled with little bell-like items that tinkle with every movement, and are tied in a "Burangka" or "Rangkai" pattern.In the past, the Pengiran would wear 11 on each wrist, while others would choose to wear nine. The outfit is a "Baju Kurong Singkat", which is a short dress that is wrapped with "Kain Kapit" made of exquisite Jong Sarat fabric. Holding the Kain Kapit together is a gold belt and buckle known as "Panding" and "Kepala Panding". Completing the ensemble is a pair of hollow metal anklets called "Galang Geruncong", which are similar to the Galang Pengaluan, as they also make tinkling sounds with movement.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

W. Mass. advocates urge legislators to dump gay marriage ban 6/05/2007by Kevin Nelson

About 100 western Massachusetts gay marriage supporters, including several political and public figures, are urging the Legislature to keep a proposed same-sex marriage ban off the 2008 ballot. Among the 102 signers of a full-page paid ad in Sunday's Republican newspaper were Holyoke Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, Hampden Superior Clerk of Courts Brian Lees, Massachusetts Bar Association President Mark Mason of Springfield, and Springfield Technical Community College Board of Trustees Chairman Steven Bradley. The ad was sponsored by MassEquality, an advocacy group that opposes the proposed constitutional amendment. Legislators are scheduled to decide next week whether to advance it to a statewide vote. Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which endorses the ballot question, said voters should have a chance to decide. "I think what we have here is about 100 individuals saying their status in our commonwealth is more important than the 170,000 law abiding citizens who signed the petition to have the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage," Mineau said. Mason said the bar association "promotes equality in marriage and will not abide by state-sponsored discrimination." Peter Straley, president and chief executive officer of Health New England of Springfield, who signed the ad, said his position is personal. "I have a child who is gay, and I want that child to have all the rights that I have," he said.

Soldier plans wedding without telling his bride 6/05/2007by Kevin Nelson

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium on “Insight into the War to End All Wars--- WWI,” following the June 24, 3 p.m. matinee performance of Mary’s Wedding, an award-winning play of young love, set in Canada immediately before, during and after World War I. Guest speakers will be Stephen Massicotte, playwright of Mary’s Wedding, and Cecelia Bucki, associate professor of history at Fairfield University. The Playhouse Sunday Symposium program, free and open to the public, provides the audience with guest speakers’ in-depth insights and observations about the production followed by an interactive dialogue. Debra Baron, Westport Country Playhouse education director, will moderate the Sunday Symposium. The speakers will offer an historical perspective of World War I and some of its unintended social consequences and long-term effects on the 20th century. “The Sunday Symposium will enhance the audience’s experience in fully appreciating the play,” said Tazewell Thompson, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. “It is open to all, including those who attend a performance of Mary’s Wedding at another time.” Thompson is director of Mary’s Wedding, on the stage of Westport Country Playhouse June 21 through July 7. Massicotte’s play Mary’s Wedding premiered at Alberta Theatre Projects’ annual playRites Festival and was the winner of the 2000 Alberta Playwriting Competition, the 2002 Betty Mitchell Award for Best New Play and the 2003 Alberta Book Award for Drama. Mary’s Wedding continues to be produced in English and French throughout Canada, the UK and the US. Massicotte’s other award-winning plays The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion, A Farewell to Kings, Pervert and the popular Star Wars-inspired Boy’s Own Jedi Handbook series have played for audiences throughout Canada. His film writing credits include the screenplays for the feature films “Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning and “The Dark.” Massicotte has a BFA in Drama from the University of Calgary. Bucki has taught at Fairfield University since 1990. She has also taught at Wesleyan University, Yale University, and Hamilton College. She is a specialist in twentieth-century U.S. history, with an emphasis on social and labor history. Her first book, Bridgeport’s Socialist New Deal, 1915-1936 (2001), won the Homer D. Babbidge, Jr. Award for Best Book in Connecticut History from the Association for the Study of Connecticut History.

Soldier plans wedding without telling his bride 6/05/2007by Kevin Nelson

SPRUCEWOODS -- Recently back from Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Oliver Cromwell and friends faced a daunting mission -- hold a surprise wedding without his fiance finding out until moments before the vow. But they pulled it off in grand style Saturday and the unsuspecting bride, Crystal Hamm -- stunned and a little embarrassed to see family, friends and media standing before her as her blindfold was removed -- lovingly slipped a ring onto her new husband's finger. "This ring I give you in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love," Hamm told her husband, adding with a smile and hug, "You are so dead when I get home." Hamm, 29, and Cromwell, 28, have been engaged since October when Cromwell was on leave from his tour in Afghanistan with the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. That tour ended on Valentine's Day and the couple -- with a daughter Jersey, 2, and another child on the way -- were excited about the prospect of marriage but couldn't afford a ceremony. Fortunately, Hamm's boss, Coral Quinney, and co-workers at the Base Hair and Tanning Salon are part of a CFB Shilo group called Community of Kindness which performs random acts of kindness. Plans for the secret ceremony began six days ago, after one of Hamm's friends approached Quinney and asked her what she thought about planning a wedding without the bride's knowledge. "We had no budget, we have no time, we had just a lot of love and a lot of good wishes and pulled it together," Quinney said. Click here to find out more! It was Cromwell who wanted to keep it a secret from his fiance."I wanted to do something different," Cromwell explained. With a little sneaking and some luck, the pieces all fell into place. Four days ago, Cromwell happened to discover that a wedding commissioner works at the Sprucewoods gas station. It also happened that Hamm had tried on a friend's wedding dress and was told she could keep it as long as she needed it. It was that dress that was hidden in the Sprucewoods Community Club washroom to await the bride's arrival. Just before Hamm was due at the hall, her co-workers styled her hair on the pretense that they were practicing for another wedding. She was led to the hall believing she was headed to dinner and a night out with friends, confused only when she was blindfolded. Only one question remained -- would she say "I do"? Cromwell, admitted he was a "little nervous" just before Hamm arrived. He needn't have worried. After a quick change into her wedding dress in the hall's washroom, Hamm made her way to the altar. "Crazy, shocked I can't believe that this is happening, I can't believe I'm married," the new Mrs. Cromwell said after the ceremony, adding the secret explained why her hubby-to-be had received strange phone calls lately. "I can't believe that he pulled this off, I thought that he was having an affair!" In the end, though, Hamm said she wouldn't have her wedding any other way. "It's perfect," she said. -- Brandon Sun

Great Books for Brides and Grooms of All Faiths 6/05/2007by Kevin Nelson

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. Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is a leading interfaith and non-denominational wedding officiant. She creates unique ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and faiths, and is also widely recognized as a relationship coach, bridal stress expert and columnist. She is author of WEDDING GODDESS: A Divine Guide to Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss. To help reduce wedding stress, get your personally autographed copy at www.WeddingGoddess.com.

Brides to Be selects Walter Karl as list manager 6/05/2007by Kevin Nelson

Walter Karl is managing the Brides to Be catalog file. Brides to Be sells products for weddings through a number of catalogs including titles with products designed for “specialty” weddings. These weddings have an underlying theme and include weddings planned at a vacation spot or on a cruise ship, weddings with a country flair or a seasonal theme, and Christian weddings. These buyers trust the Brides to Be to provide them with invitations and other products of superior quality. Many also purchase items such as “Save the Date” announcements, favors, guest books, ring pillows and many other matching accessories for a perfectly coordinated wedding. The majority of brides are 21 to 33. The average income of these soon to be brides is $45K. Seventy percent hold professional or managerial positions. Wedding dates and phone numbers are available on 75 percent of the file. Companies soliciting tuxedos, jewelry, vacation packages, intimate apparel, home furnishings and decorative accessories, gifts, housewares, women’s apparel, beauty, health and fitness, magazines, book and music clubs, travel and leisure, and credit cards may work well with these individuals.