Best Brother Speech... One for the Books

There are legendary best man tributes and toasts to the couple on their wedding day... and honestly, that moment can steal the show, but only momentarily.  After all, the show is about the bride and groom.

But isn't it nice when someone in the wedding party surprises the entire crowd and relieves a little stress of the day by making everyone laugh?  The guests are all sitting down.  Their feet hurt a little in their new shoes.  And you've got a built-in audience who is ready to love everything you have to say.

Laughter and joy at a wedding are welcome commodities.  Choose the people giving your tributes and toasts carefully and it will be an incredible surprise to everyone!

Getting Hitched: Average Cost of a Wedding

Weddings are brilliant affairs.  But there's so much to consider when organizing a wedding.

Earlier this year, The Knot released its annual study of wedding costs and trends.

According to the study, the average cost of a wedding is $31,213.

In Los Angeles, California the average cost of a wedding is $37,317.

Manhattan, New York has the highest average with a cost of $76,328.

And none of those averages include the honeymoon.

The most popular months to get married:  June and October.

The venues are changing, too.

According to the study, only 28% of couples held their ceremony in a religious institution, down from 41% in 2009.

More couples are going to venues such as historical buildings and remodeled bars on farms.

In fact, my nephew and his wife held their wedding ceremony outdoors on a beautiful green landscaped farm and the reception was held in an upscale remodeled barn.  It was a stunning location.

The choices in today's wedding world are endless.

You special day can range in price.

Whether your wedding ceremony and reception are simple or extravagant, just make sure it's special and memorable for both of you.

How Should He Propose?

Every girl dreams about the day a man gets down on one knee and proposes marriage.

It's a special moment that you can never get back, so it should be memorable.

One man put a full plan into effect... that involved a bunch of people exercising in Zumba class.

Memorable?  Yes.

Are they married now?  Yes.

There are some amazing proposals that have been caught on film.

With 32 million views, this is another one of my favorites.

Notice... everyone gets down on one knee.  Details matter.  Cheers for each proposal!

What Husbands Want From Wives... What Wives Want From Husbands

No one is in marriage standing alone.  It comes with a partnership and understanding.

When you're planning for your wedding and thinking about sharing your future with another person, you have to be smart and proactive in facing a life with someone else.

This is the reason many couples choose to take part in a few sessions of pre-marital counseling.  This helps them prepare and get some advice on what works.  It takes two people to make it work.  One person cannot do it alone.

Remember that book from the 1990s, "Men Are From Mars and Women are From Venus?"  Men and women are totally different in their approach and their needs.  They can balance each other as long as both parties understand the differences.

There are two great articles from Wedding Officiant and Pastor Dave Page on The Overwhelmed Bride.

The first article is entitled "10 Things Husbands Want From Their Wives."

The second article is entitled "10 Things Wives Want From Their Husbands."

If you're getting married or if you're already married, these are must reads.  You might see yourselves in some of these tips or you might get a laugh.

Look at what Pastor Dave lists as the 10th thing that wives want from their husbands:

Chocolate!

If a pastor gives that advice, husbands and future husbands better pick up some chocolate treats on the way home from work today for your sweetie.

The love that lasts is the love that pays attention.

Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dance

If you're planning your wedding, always remember the details and include both sets of parents.

There's an incredible video circulating online and it focuses on a mother-son dance.

The bride actually posted the video from a few years ago because her mother-in-law has passed away and she wanted to honor her husband and share an incredible moment from their wedding day.

This video made me tear up because it's one of those incredible decisions that made an impact on everyone who was present for the couple and the families.

They very easily could have eliminated that dance but they didn't. They knew how important that dance was that day.

And that decision made all the difference in the world.

More than 10 million viewers agree, this is spectacular... and it will be remembered for a lifetime.

Weddings Should Be One-of-A-Kind

This is your wedding.

This is your special day.

Be as creative as possible.

Make every moment one-of-a-kind.

Make this day stand out from all of the other days in your life to remind everyone of the importance of this moment.

Before your friends and family, you will be making a statement of commitment for life.

Having a wedding is a serious decision so both parties have to be certain they are in this together, hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart, and committed to a lifetime of love.

I believe in love.  And I believe in the power of a beautiful wedding.

Watch this video and tell me... why this mother saved a letter for 20 years for this special day.

That expresses the importance of a wedding day.