7 Romantic Gestures for Your Wedding Week

If you have been with your partner for a few years and you’ve recently gotten engaged, then you are sure to be in one of the most exciting times of your relationship.

If you are a romantic person who loves making whimsical gestures, then why not surprise your partner with some spontaneous surprises in the week leading up to your wedding?

If it’s the week before your wedding and everything is arranged, paid for and sorted, from the bridesmaid’s dresses with their matching Seventy Seven Diamonds jewelery, to the band and the venue, then you and your partner deserve a well earned break from all the organizing you have done. But why not add an extra bit of romance and excitement by surprising your other half with something special each day before the wedding?

Here are seven romantic gestures to make the week before your wedding even more exciting:

1. Buy some heart shaped pieces of paper and on each one, write something loving and romantic. Hide them around the house and see if your partner can find them all before the big day.  



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Arranged Marriage: A Look from the Inside

Note: This guest post was written by Surabhi Surendra of Womantics.  I know I found this insight on arranged marriages to be fascinating, and I hope you enjoy learning about this cultural practice from a woman who is living it.

Arranged marriage.

This is how we refer to the practice that led me to my husband  in my home country of India.

Are you familiar with the term?  Whether you are new to the idea or understand how it works, I’d like to tell you more about it from my perspective.

It is an arrangement in which the parents or the close relatives arrange the marriage or, in better words, find a suitable match for their daughter or son.  In earlier times, marriage was solely a right of the parents or guardians and prospects hardly had any say in it, but with changing times and better education, the system has refined itself into a more friendly practice.

Today, prospects can not only voice their preferences, but they can even outright refuse a match if they are not comfortable with it.

My Personal Experience with Arranged Marriage

I will give my own personal experience.  



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Getting Married in College

Note: This is a guest post from Marina Salsbury.  I’ve been asked about this topic numerous times and enjoy hearing a fresh take on it.  FYI, I was married right after college graduation, and Bethany was still in college at the time.

Often couples who date in college want to go ahead and get married while they are still in school, rather than wait until they have graduated and completed their education.

There are many issues to be considered when making this life-changing decision, including how it will effect the couple financially, emotionally and socially.

Marriage in college can change the picture of cramming in the library or working on online college classes in a messy dorm quite a bit.

While there appears to be little agreement among researchers about the ideal age to marry, collegiate couples in their 20s often choose to go ahead and begin their marriages, even if they are still in school.

Developmental Goals of Young Adulthood

Each decade in life has certain developmental goals to be reached.  



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How College Students Can Make a Long Distance Relationship Work

Note: This is a guest post from Brian Jenkins offering some great tips on long distance relationships, especially for college students.  We have a lot of college students, engaged couples and military families as part of the Engaged Marriage community, so I thought this would be a helpful topic to cover for everyone.

What happens when sweethearts have to split up to attend different colleges hundreds of miles apart?

Can they deal with the strain of being apart while keeping the relationship fresh? Many students boldly give it a try because they’re convinced they’ve found their true love, the person they’re destined to marry.

What can these folks do to make things work? Let’s take a look at some long distance relationship tips endorsed by relationship experts. By the way, married couples in long distance relationships can also benefit from these tips!  



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• Be thoughtful: Every couple of weeks, send a hand written love note the old fashioned way, via the postal service. Hand written letters feel more personal than emails or text messages. If you’re the super romantic type, write and send a love poem every once in a while. Flowers, chocolates, balloons, or gift baskets also make thoughtful gifts that your partner will enjoy. And as always, homemade gifts are always appreciated.

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Dr. Gary Chapman on Great Sex, Cohabitation, Marriage Preparation and Much More!

I recently had the great privilege of interviewing Dr. Gary Chapman and gaining his insight into a variety of important issues impacting dating, engaged and married couples.  As expected, his wisdom was very impressive and exceptionally practical (and you know I like that!).

Most people know Dr. Chapman as the author of more than 30 books on the topics of family and marriage relationships.  His best-known book, The Five Love Languages, tops my list of recommended reading for couples.  If you haven’t read it, you need to.

Dr. Chapman recently published Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married as a down-to-earth advice guide for dating and engaged couples.  Once again, he’s produced a book that will likely top the bestseller list and help many couples.

Here are some examples of the topics covered during our nearly 30-minute conversation:  



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• The vital importance of marriage preparation
• How couples should deal with major personality differences
• The pros and cons of living together before marriage
• What to do when you don’t feel “in love” anymore
• Advice for a satisfying sex life
• The Apology Love Language
• How to deal with a Love Language that changes over time or isn’t identifiable

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