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How and when to do a Wedding Ring Ceremony as part of your LDS Wedding Day Since exchanging rings isn’t part of the LDS Temple Sealing, Latter-day Saint couples have two options. Either they can exchange rings at the conclusion of the sealing after they have stepped away from the altar, or they can exchange them at a separate ring ceremony during the wedding reception. Keep reading to learn why a ring ceremony may be right for you, get current guidelines from general authorities, and get ideas for a sample program for a Mormon Ring Ceremony on WeddingLDS.com.

LDS Weddings don't have to cost a fortune! Setting a LDS Wedding Budget is an important step for the LDS bride and groom!

LDS Temple Wedding (Temple Sealing)and Wedding Reception Picture List Make sure that you get all the right wedding pictures for time and all ete ity! The LDS Bride and Groom will need to work carefully with their wedding photographer to determine what types of shots will be included throughout the wedding day. Consider “must have” shots like: • Groom buttoning up his vest or putting his shoes on • Bride putting on her makeup or earrings • Close up shots of the bride’s jewelry and hairstyle • Just the bride, just the groomr

Finding Modest Dresses for the Mother of the Bride or Groom Wedding plans naturally revolve around the couple to be married – the wedding dress, the reception hall, and the bride’s bouquet – but the dresses for the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom have to be planned carefully, too. How do you choose an appropriate dress for your daughter or son’s wedding? Colors for Mother of the Bride Dresses

How to find Modest Wedding Dresses- Part One of Three How to Choose a Modest Wedding Dress (especially LDS Wedding Gowns)

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Here is an undeniable truth about life – actions speak louder than words! We know, you’ve heard this all before! But the truth is, you can, and must, judge a man by his actions and not by his words! Words are cheap. Actions mean everything! The truth is always there for all to see when you observe the way people act and respond, rarely by what they say. This truth is self-evident – good men practice what they preach.

How LDS Brides and LDS Groom can elegantly do a LDS Wedding Ring Ceremony as part of LDS Weddings and Receptions (by the LDS rules but with both grace and style ) How and when to do a Wedding Ring Ceremony as part of your LDS Wedding Day

LDS Wedding can be Elegant and Fun: Designing the Perfect LDS Wedding Invitations for your LDS Temple Wedding In the whirlwind of planning a LDS wedding, it can be hard to know where to begin. Sending out wedding invitations as early as possible is essential, but it’s not as easy as it sounds: there is a lot of legwork to be done before stamping and sending off all those envelopes.

Buying a Wedding Gown on a Budget: Saving Money on Modest Wedding Dressesrn (Especially LDS Wedding Gowns) Chances are that shortly after you were engaged, you envisioned yourself in your wedding dress and couldn’t wait to start shopping for one. But once you saw the price tags of even the most basic dress, you were probably a little shell-shocked. Lessen the impact of your dress on your wedding budget by using these simple tips for choosing an inexpensive wedding dress. Shop Around for Mormon Wedding Dress or LDS Wedding Gowns

Bridal Bouquets for your LDS Temple Wedding(Temple Sealing & your Wedding Reception

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Just as important as saying the right thing to the one you love is to avoid saying statements that have the potential to destroy the foundation of the relationship. Saying just one wrong thing can negate an entire day of good statements and actions. Negative and hurtful statements can have the power to cut through the very fabric of the bond between two people in love. Here are those five things you should NEVER say to your spouse:

How will I know I am in Love? By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our many interviews with people “in love” we ask them, perhaps, the most revealing question of the interview – “How will I know I am in love?” We have heard very consistent answers. And conversely, many people involved in a new loving relationship, particularly young people, often ask us, “How do I know if I am in love?” We think we know the answer.

Let’s face it, long time relationships sometimes end. And the simple truth is there isn’t always a compelling reason or reasons why. The separation of Al and Tipper Gore after 40 years of marriage is a good illustration of the “why” question – why did their love affair end after all these years?

Wedding Colors Convey Meanings-Tips from a Professional Wedding Planning Expert When choosing the colors for your wedding and wedding reception you may want to consider what do your favorite colors mean? Take a look at the list below, you may find a new favorite! Diamond White: Purity, Innocence, Reverence, Youth, Goodness, Simplicity, Humility, Cleanliness, Peace, Protection, Fai ess (White is brilliant and bright and stands out to the eye. For an ethereal effect, use a second soft color such as pink or light blue or soft yellow or light green.)

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Let’s face it – we love our spouse more than life itself. And frankly, we cannot imagine life without them! But the truth is, from time to time, our love for each other needs renewal. While love can be forever, it often needs nurturance, recommitment, and an occasional makeover. Love has its season for renewal. Every so often, our “love affair” needs rekindling. Every once in awhile, we need to “strike another match” and rekindle the fire in our relationship.

How to Find Modest Wedding Dresses - Part Two of Three (Especially LDS Wedding Gowns) Modest Wedding Dresses - Their Shapes and Styles Part II of Three Modest Weddings can be beautiful and classy: The selection of Modest Wedding Dresses (especially LDS Wedding Gowns)r

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have studied marriage around the globe for three decades. And while our focus has principally been on successful marriage, we have interviewed a lot of folks whose marriage was in trouble – whose marriage was falling apart. There is nothing more painful than watching your marriage disintegrate before your eyes. It hurts. In fact, it may be amongst the most painful experiences you will have in your lifetime.

Choosing a Wedding Photographer for Your LDS Wedding & Wedding Reception

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. This morning, a great friend of ours sent along an article that we were really taken with. For those who have read our book, Building a Love that Lasts (Jossey-Bass/Wiley 2010), you may recall a chapter entitled, “A Tribute to Lasting Love” (pp. 259-262).

LDS Weddings: The importance to the LDS Bride and Groom of the LDS Temple Sealing or Mormon Wedding Finally, in order to appreciate one’s LDS Temple Wedding (sealing), LDS Temple brides need to understand what is (and isn’t) going to happen inside the Temple. There are sad stories about LDS brides who entered the temple with no idea what to expect out of their LDS wedding and emerged disappointed at the lack of fanfare in the temple sealing ceremony.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Okay, the children have all left home. You and your spouse are finally alone after two decades of marriage. Now what? How do you cope? What lies in store for the two of you? These are questions faced by millions of married couples worldwide each and every year. If you are lucky, it is something you will have to deal with some day.

Continued from The Seven Most Common Mistakes Made By Marriage Counselors – Part 1 By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. 4. Making marriage too difficult to understand when, in fact, “simple things matter.” We have been saying this for years – our 26+ years of research on successful marriage has revealed some simple truths about marriage.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Oh, the times, they are a-changing! This refrain is from a very famous Peter, Paul, and Mary song. And the truth is, people are finding love in different ways than they did is year’s past. Online dating is a reality today. According to recent estimates – and we think they are pretty credible – one in eight couples who got married last year met online. Some think the number is closer to one in four. However, we see no evidence that this is the case.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Falling in love with another human being is easy, but making a commitment to love them forever is “up in the air” for many people.

When Choosing from the selection of Modest Wedding Dresses (Especially LDS Wedding Gowns) Brides shouldn’t go into a bridal wear retailer unprepared. Have you heard stories of someone who went to a car dealership “just to browse” and ended up walking away having bought a car? Scoff if you want, but unless you know what you want and you’re prepared, the same thing might end up happening to you.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Recently, we reviewed some research that addressed the issue of how to make the “romance” of a marriage last.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Frankly, if we hear yet one more person talk about infidelity in a relationship as if it were okay, not a big deal, and forgivable, we are going to get angry! We have studied the best marriages for nearly 28 years and we know this – the best marriages would never engage in unfaithfulness – they would never engage in infidelity.

A Short History of Wedding Cake Toppings and Wedding Cake Toppers-Part I The modern wedding cake is an out growth of wedding traditions dating back to the Roman Empire. Wedding cake toppings, also called Wedding cake ornaments or Wedding cake toppers, are the outgrowth of a number of old traditions from around the world.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Kids! We love them. We cherish them. They bring joy to our lives. When we have children in a marriage, we understand finally, and once and for all, what eternity means. While we are not immortal, we learn the meaning of everlasting life when we are blessed with children. They make us feel like we will live through time. We know that through them our lives will have meaning beyond our time on this earth.

When Am I Ready To Get Married? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Just when you think you have heard it all, along comes Mo’Nique! Here is what she says about her marriage to Sid -- "Could Sid have sex outside of his marriage with me? Yes. That's not a deal-breaker," she says. "That's not something that would make us say, 'Pack your things and let's end the marriage.'" And according to US.Magazine.com she says “she wouldn't call it quits even if he had numerous flings.”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As our many readers know, we have been studying successful marriage and relationships for nearly three decades. And frankly, one of the most important questions we get asked is, How will I know if this is true love? The answer is simpler than you think. In the end, there are Seven Tests of True Love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We believe that many folks are afraid of marriage because they read the dire predictions about marriage in the news, they watch way too much television where the focus is, more often than not, on glorifying sex and multiple relationships, and because they hear too many people belittling the value and sanctity of marriage. It’s a shame really because it causes people desperate for love to look for love in all the wrong places.

Types and Styles of Wedding Cake Toppings or Toppers Article by Rose Hallerr Exclusively for www.WeddingCakeToppings.info and www.WeddingLDS.infornr

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have studied successfully married couples for over 26 years on six of the world’s seven continents. We have traveled in more countries than we can remember. And while our focus has been on those who have made their marriages work; we are also constantly reminded that some marriages need help. Some marriages need another human being to help them make their marriage survive and thrive.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have learned lots of interesting and important lessons from the thousands of successfully married couples we have interviewed over the years – of that you can be sure.

Negativism can easily creep into even the best relationships causing a pattern of negative actions and thoughts to overpower the marriage. The question often asked by couples is “How you can build positive interactions with each other on a daily basis so negativism doesn’t take hold of our relationship?”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Don’t you just hate bullies! They try to get what they want by bullying you, by intimidating you, and by making you feel inferior to them. If you are like us, this NEVER works! Yet, so many good folks succumb to the bully. And we wonder why?

America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Over the years, we have been asked if the age differential between people contemplating marriage really matters. Our answer – it depends! In our thousands of interviews on six continents of the world, we have learned this – when you are truly in love, your age and the age of the one you love really doesn’t matter for the most part. But there is a reality to this notion as well. There are circumstances when the difference in age does matter.

Love And Marriage In Brazil By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

What Does Love Look Like? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There is an old saying that many attribute to a Chinese proverb that goes like this – “May you live in interesting times.” To say that is an understatement of our world today is, well . . . an understatement! We are experiencing unprecedented economic times in the USA today. Oh, sure, we have experienced higher unemployment rates before. There is no doubt that the Great Depression of the 1920’s and ‘30’s in our country was a negative economic experience far greater than what we are experiencing today, make no mistake about that.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have said it before and we now say it again – the divorce rate in the United States of America is NOT 50%! It is more likely, closer to 40%, perhaps, slightly less, according to some estimates. Here are the facts. According to Brad Wilcox in “The Evolution of Divorce” in the Fall 2009 issue of National Affairs, “The divorce rate fell from a historic high of 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women in 1980 to 17.5 in 2007.

History of Wedding Cake Toppings and Wedding Cake Toppers (Part II of Two) Part I of this article shared the early history in the United States of bot Wedding Cake Toppings and Wedding Cake Toppers. In the early 1900’s wedding cake toppers or wedding cake toppings were made from glass, paper, or wood, and many of the toppers were handcrafted. Over time the popular wedding cake toppings (wedding cake toppers) began to be manufactured or mass produced commercially in the United States, Europe and Asia.

America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Over the past decade there have been a number of research articles expounding on the positive virtues of marriage and good health. We have reported on them. And as you know, there are some very strong opinions that accompany the research findings – debates about whether same-sex marriage and relationships count – debates about what constitutes a “marriage” – and debates about “what is true love?” Sometimes, the debates get heated! Trust us, we know!

How to Choose a Wedding Cake Design How do you describe your dream cake to your decorator when you don’t know the lingo? Read on for an overview of commonly used wedding cake decorating techniques and embellishments. Knowing what’s out there can help you to choose your ideal design when you sit down with your wedding specialty baker and decorator. Fondant or Buttercream Icing as the Base Do you ever wonder how professionally-done cakes get that flawlessly smooth layer of frosting on top?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. For the past several weeks we have been pouring over as much data as we can get our hands on to answer a question we are often asked – “How is the current Recession affecting marriage in the USA?” The answer is complicated. Here’s what we do know. Historically, the divorce rate does go up during a recession. But interestingly enough, according to U.S.

Finding The Right Person To Marry By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Frankly, if we hear yet one more person talk about infidelity in a relationship as if it were okay, not a big deal, and forgivable, we are going to get angry! We have studied the best marriages for more than 25 years and we know this – the best marriages would never engage in unfaithfulness – they would never engage in infidelity. Here is the whole truth and nothing but the truth – being disloyal to the one you love is an unpardonable sin!

By America's #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Today is a day to remember! Our publisher officially released our multiple award-winning book in paperback! Our labor of love – our heart’s work for the past 26+ years – has come to fruition in a format that will reach even more people.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Okay, we admit it – our favorite new love-story movie is Leap Year (2010). We simply love the movie and have now watched it three times! The movie speaks to many of the research findings we have found over the three decades we have researched successful marriage and relationships on six of the world’s seven continents.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Let’s face it; the oft-quoted statistic that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce discourages a lot of couples who are contemplating marriage. Who could blame them? Who wants to get into relationships where there is the expectation of failure half the time! But the truth is, the suggestion that there is a 50% divorce rate in American is simply wrong, wrong, wrong!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Caring for an aging parent can take a very serious toll on your relationship with your spouse. What are the tips on how to help caregivers keep their love alive while caring for an aging parent(s)? What are the warning signs that your relationship is suffering?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As we say repeatedly, the simple things matter in love and marriage. Do the simple things and your marriage or loving relationship will prosper. Charley learned his lesson some 43 years ago! He grew up in a rural area of Missouri back when outhouses were more prevalent than toilets that flushed!

By America's #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We arrived in Dublin, Ireland for a week of interviews on the Emerald Isle with successfully married couples. Our journey is part of our new "simple things matter in love and marriage" series and relates to our continuing search for great marriages around the world.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are eternal optimists – make no mistake about that! With us, glasses are always half full, not half empty. The sun is always shining where we live! We are eternally hopeful that tomorrow will be a brighter day – and it usually is! We love life and are excited to get out of bed every morning. For us, every day is a joyful experience. We hope you spend most of your time feeling the same way. Frankly, it is hard for us to think negatively about any aspect of our life and our existence.

Debunking The Divorce Rate Myth By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In these tough economic times we think it is important to again remind folks that the best things in life are free. To love, to be loved, and to give the gift of time is the best gift you can give to someone. This is an especially important message on Valentine’s Day.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Starting over is really difficult when it comes to love and marriage. Getting a divorce, breaking up, or losing the one you love due to their death can be overwhelmingly painful. The simple truth is this – you entered into your loving relationship with another person expecting it to last forever. But all acts of love are, we are afraid to say, not everlasting.

Bride and Groom’s Top 10 Best Budget Wedding Cake Tips Your wedding cake is sure to be the most expensive dessert you’ll ever serve. Many LDS couples cringe at the thought of spending $800 on a single cake – after all, haven’t we been taught to be thrifty? While you may not be able to take the sting completely out of paying for your wedding cake, here are 10 ways to make sure that your cake eats up less of your wedding budget. Easy Ways to Save Money on Wedding Cake

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. On the Today Show a remarkable segment aired. It was remarkable not because it was good or enlightening, but because it wasn’t. In fact, it was downright misleading and irresponsible based upon the research evidence, and we want to comment on it.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We thought we had heard everything until this! We heard recently that the Reverend Ed Young of the Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas told his congregation during a Sunday worship service that he wanted married couples in his congregation to have sex all week long.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Let’s face it – the economy of the USA is in turmoil. And the truth is, the unemployment rate is approaching 10%, and will probably exceed that rate in the coming months. The times are tough in America today. Not good news, for sure. Tough times put a strain on marriages; there is no doubt about that. So what does all this mean for marriage in the USA? Our review of the evidence suggests that the tough economic times we face may be, in reality, a positive development when it comes to marriage.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Falling in love does not have to be complicated. Sometimes it is as simple as meeting someone for the first time, falling head over heals in love with them and spending a lifetime together. It can be just that simple! Several days ago, we interviewed a successfully married couple whose marriage was not all that unusual.

Bride’s Guide on How to Choose a Wedding Cake Design and to Decorate her Wedding Cake How do you describe your dream cake to your decorator when you don’t know the lingo? Read on for an overview of commonly used wedding cake decorating techniques and embellishments. Knowing what’s out there can help you to choose your ideal design when you sit down with your wedding specialty baker and decorator. Fondant or Buttercream Icing as the Base Do you ever wonder how professionally-done cakes get that flawlessly smooth layer of frosting on top?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are “baby-boomers.” Like some 80 million Americans, we were born during the period 1946-1964. We are that generation of Americans born to what former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw called, “The Greatest Generation.” Our parents survived the Great Depression, won the Second World War, and by most accounts, saved the world and preserved democracy in a post-war era. There is no doubt; the free world owes a great debt of gratitude to the Greatest Generation.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Here is an undeniable truth about life – actions speak louder than words! We know, you’ve heard this all before! But the truth is, you can, and must, judge a man by his actions and not by his words! Words are cheap. Actions mean everything! The truth is always there for all to see when you observe the way people act and respond, rarely by what they say. This truth is self-evident – good men practice what they preach.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our current European trip is part of our continuing search for great marriages around the world. This time our travels have brought us to the tiny principality of Andorra.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Over the many years we have been conducting research about love and marriage, we are continually reminded of the important role effective communication between couples plays in the overall health and well being of their relationship.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. People in love sometimes fall out of love. But sometimes, they fall back into love all over again. While we have seen many instances of this in our interviews over the years, a great example of what we are talking about is the love affair between Tom and Anna.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Make no mistake about it – great marriages require unencumbered time! You have read our musings about the fundamental predisposition of every human being to have time alone – to have time only to their private thoughts.

Reflections on Love and Marriage By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . This coming Monday, we will celebrate our 41st Wedding Anniversary. Just imagine, being successfully married for 41 years!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. According to the available research evidence, there are several periods in a marriage that seem, on average, to be particularly troublesome – the first year, the seventh year, the fifteenth year, and the 30th year. Marriages that survive and thrive beyond 30 years have virtually no chance of ending in divorce!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. At the end of every interview we conduct with happily and successfully married couples we ask the most powerful question of our interview protocol – “Can you imagine life without your spouse?” The question always draws tears to the eyes of the couple we are interviewing. We have asked them a question they have repressed. It is a question no loving couple wants to think about. The answer is, however, nearly always the same – “No!”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Did you ever wonder why some people find the perfect person to marry, do so, and enjoy a love affair that lasts a lifetime? On the other hand, some marry a person that is wrong for them now, wrong for them tomorrow, and wrong for them for a lifetime? What’s the difference? Why do some succeed at love and marriage where others fail?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There is absolutely no question about it, great marriages require time alone – time away from each other! We have witnessed time and time again marriages in which one or both partners failed to understand the importance of being alone, not only for themselves, but for their spouse as well. When we first introduce this concept to others, the reaction is usually one of surprise.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Over our 44 years of marriage we have met thousands of couples that deeply loved each other. We have interviewed many, many of them for our several books on successful marriage.

Love, Marriage, and Prenuptial Agreements By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . We believe that Prenuptial Agreements are a bad idea, period! Just imagine, telling someone that you love him or her, but you don't trust them!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The fact of the matter is this -- marriage is alive and well in the United States and around the world! It is the single greatest contributor to social order on planet Earth. And the fact of the matter is this -- marriage is the most profound commitment to lasting love that exists. Those who question its importance ignore the facts. Statistically, there is substantial support for our point of view.

Love Is Like Learning To Dance By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The “heart of the matter” is this – successful marriages around the world are bound together by their commonalities – certainly not by their differences. Learn the lessons, emulate them, practice them, take them to heart, and engage in the simple acts that make great marriage work every day. For more than 26 years, we have traveled the world in search of the best marriages. Our travels have taken us to five of the world’s seven continents and to nearly 40 countries.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our many travels around the world conducting our marriage research, we are often ask this question – “Does Marriage Improve With Age?” The answer is, YES! Here’s why.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Over the past several days, we have been in sunny southern California conducting interviews with selected celebrities including a former priest and his wife and couples with very famous last names. Tomorrow, we tape a segment of the television show, Lifestyle Magazine. It has been a fun trip so far.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our ongoing search for the world’s best marriages took us to Gibraltar today, or as some refer to it – the Rock of Gibraltar. Doing interviews with happily married couples there seemed like a nice transitional thing to do since we are on our way to North Africa to interview Muslim couples for the first time in our many travels around the world. We will land in Morocco on Thursday.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are currently on an East Coast swing promoting our new book, Building a Love that Lasts: The Seven Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2010, available wherever books are sold).

Are You Scaring Away Your Chance At Love? By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Several months ago we penned an article entitled, “Great Love Is Best Not Rushed.” Our principle theme was this – in the beginning of a budding love relationship, don’t get in a hurry in your quest for love and companionship. To do so will often result in a failed relationship because one of you will run away before the relationship is cemented if you feel pressured! And that would be too bad.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. This Holiday Season again reminds us of the importance of being with those you love as you celebrate the joy of the season. We have heard repeatedly during our many interviews with successfully married couples around the world the importance they attach to seeing their children over the holidays and on other special occasions. A parent’s love is with you everywhere. Every time you are far from home you are never alone. Your parents are always with you.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. How will I know when I find Mr. Right? What if I am making a big mistake? Is he really the ONE, or should I walk away? These are critical questions women must ask themselves when they try to decide whether to move on with a serious relationship or whether to they decide to move on to find the real Mr. Right.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We know how you feel! Starting over is really difficult when it comes to love and marriage. Getting a divorce, breaking up, or losing the one you love due to their death can be overwhelmingly painful. The simple truth is this – you entered into your loving relationship with another person expecting it to last forever.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There is an old saying among those who specialize in statistical data, and it goes like this – “Statistics are for liars and damn liars.” The famous Missourian, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) said it even better when he opined “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so!” More on these notions later. Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. It appears that the Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, has admitted to having an affair.

Physical Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . Now that we have your attention . . . We completed our annual physical examinations today. Long ago we established the tradition of scheduling our respective annual physicals on the same day. Why, you ask?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. If you are like us, you are sick and tired of all the debate about what constitutes a successful marriage or relationship. Does it really matter what others think about OUR love, who we marry, or what makes us happy in life? Shouldn’t the real question be, “What does it take to sustain a loving relationship for a lifetime?”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Have you ever heard of the so-called “hormone of love” called Oxytocin? This hormone has been promoted in some circles as “promoting long-term attachment” between two people who purport to love each other. Some have even suggested a “shot-in-the-arm of this substance” to make the world more lovely and loveable – to make two people more attracted to each other.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have been engaged in marriage research for nearly three decades around the world and have never been asked this question until recently – “Are there words or phrases you listen for when you interview the best marriages around the world?” This is a great question and we are delighted to share the answer with our thousands of loyal readers around the world.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. For the past five days we have been in two remarkable cities – Tangiers and Casablanca, Morocco. We came to Morocco by boat from Tarifa, Spain – a distance across the Mediterranean Sea of just nine miles.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. With our fast paced society and the ever increasing demands of everyday life, more and more couples are finding that negativity is taking over their relationship. An abrupt interject of positivity into a relationship is the only way to change the environment before it is too late. From our three decades of research with successfully married couples, here are the 5 tips for jolting your relationship out of a negative rut:

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. This is the time of the year when so many of us make promises to ourselves and to others that we rarely ever keep! These so-called “New Year’s Resolutions” sound good when we make them but, all too often, we ignore them by Valentine’s Day. You know the familiar refrains – I will lose weight. I will quit smoking. I will call my Mom at least once a week. And the list goes on. How about you do something different this year.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As you know, infidelity stories were at an all-time high in the media this year—from former Senator John Edwards and South Carolina Governor Terry Sanford to Late Night host David Letterman and Golfer Tiger Woods. It’s enough to make many people wonder if long-term marriage is even possible!

Remember the television show, “Seinfeld?” Like you, we laughed ourselves silly over the antics of the show. It was funny and full of uproarious one-liners. When Jerry Seinfeld decided to promote the idea of a new show called “The Marriage Ref,” he and everyone else surely imagined that it would be a hit. Why would anyone expect anything different? But now, reality is up against the truth. And the simple truth is this – marital problems aren’t funny to the couples going through the trials and tribulations of the various marital challenges all marriages go through.

Simple Things Matter In Love and Relationships By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We owe our moms a lot. While we are lucky that we get to have them around, we have to find a balance between helping our mom and nurturing our own marriage. Over-committing time in a helping relationship at the expense of your marriage will, in the long run, not benefit you, your mom or your spouse. First, you will need to help your mom understand just how important it is to you to have a successful and loving relationship with your spouse.

Real Love Is Colorblind By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The romantic 1955 movie, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, tells the story of an American reporter who falls in love with a Eurasian doctor. And as you might have guessed, they encounter prejudice from both of their families. Such prejudice was, unfortunately, all too common in 1955. It is all too common in 2011.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Recently, we discovered a new singing group called Pink Martini. Our daughter put us on to this group several weeks ago so we downloaded them from iTunes. We have been grooving to their sounds ever since! They are utterly delightful and we highly recommend them to you as we have to many others. They reside in Portland, Oregon.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There is something about the summer that encourages love. Maybe it’s the bright summer sun. It could be the warm summer breeze. Maybe it’s the refreshing summer water! Perhaps, it is the summer vacation. And isn’t the All Star Game played in the middle of the summer? In fact, baseball lovers know the All Star Game is played in our home town of St. Louis this summer. Whatever the cause, it appears that most people fall in love during the summer and get married during the summer – more than in any other season of the year.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Commit to the seven core values of successful love and marriage and you can make your Valentine’s Day the best ever.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. First, here are the facts. If you get married before the age of 24 in the USA, you have a MUCH higher chance of getting divorced than those who get married at 25 and beyond. The divorce rate for those getting married after the age of 25 is about 30% -- less than half the divorce rate for those getting married before the age of 24! This is a very significant difference we think!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We believe that Prenuptial Agreements are a bad idea, period! Just imagine, telling someone that you love him or her, but you don't trust them! To us, this is analogous to having two separate checking accounts in a marriage -- one for him and one for her. In both cases it becomes a case of yours and mine. Or, how about this, “I love you with the following conditions.” Whatever happened to US? We? Love without conditions?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. While times are tougher than normal in the country today, the best marriages and love affairs will sustain the test of tough times for all the right reasons – during good or bad times the best loving relationships find ways to survive and thrive.

You pretty much have most of the vendors chosen for your wedding, but now onto the wedding DJ pricing . So how much does a wedding DJ cost ? You will see many different wedding DJ prices, keep these points in mind and you will find the right one. Cheap Wedding DJ Prices These prices will usually be in the ranges of 100.00 an hour or less. Many of these wedding DJs are part time hobbyists. They might have no idea how to coordinate and deliver what you want at your wedding. Jus

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Prince William and Kate Middleton have dated each other since their days at the University of St. Andrews in England. However, some divorce lawyers say the second-in-line to the throne of England would be “well advised” to seek a prenuptial agreement. Kate was born in Reading, England. We are proud to say we have been there and have interviewed successfully married couples in that fair city.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have said for many years, “Most marriages and relationships can be saved, but not all!” And our corollary has always been – “Most marriages and relationships are worth saving, but not all!” Here’s what we mean. In the case of abuse – sexual, physical, mental – many failing marriages and relationships are simply not worth saving. In fact, to attempt to save them puts one or both partners in the relationship at risk for further abuse. Frankly, we know that some marriages and relationships are not worth saving.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. It is said that some 200 million stems of roses will be sold in the USA on Valentine's Day 2011. Imagine that! That’s a lot of expressions of love don’t you think! We Americans love Valentine’s Day. We relish the opportunity to express our love to the one we love, and we do it through multiple venues.

Are you struggling to put the past behind you? What if I gave you a simple instruction manual on how to forgive an emotional affair? It's common knowledge that the lies, deception and subsequent broken trust caused by emotional infidelity is much more difficult to forgive than the damage done by a casual one night stand. It's normal for you to have trouble moving forward when your wife has fallen in love with another man and wants him more than she wants you. If you're unable

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are delighted this week to be in the romantic capitol of the world—Paris, France! We are here on another leg of our endless search for great marriages around the world. First, a few facts about love and marriage in France that you might want to know. In 2012, the French average age for marriage of woman is about 28 and for men it is about 30. The average birth of children to French woman occurs a little under the age of 30.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As our loyal readers know, we have been researching successful marriage around the world for nearly three decades. We have travelled to 47 countries on six of the world’s seven continents in search of the best marriages.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Dear Friends: Tomorrow, we celebrate our 45th Wedding Anniversary! We got married at the Lutheran Church of the Master on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California in 1966. It is amazing to realize that so many years have passed so quickly! But we will say this to you -- we were lucky to find the love of our life so many years ago. Frankly, we cannot imagine life without each otherrnr

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There are times when we just want to retire to a remote island in the South Pacific! Why, you ask? Simple, really.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Here we go again – interviewing successfully married couples around the world!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Like us, we are sure many of you have been following the on-going saga surrounding the so-called “reality” show, Jon & Kate Plus Eight. Well, it seems like Jon and Kate are going to go their separate ways – divorce seems eminent. Ah, but apparently, the show must go on in spite of their impending divorce. Where to begin! As you know, we have been studying successful love, marriage, and relationships for over 25 years.

What Makes Love and Relationships Last? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . We have been saying for years and our 25 years of marriage research proves it – having a successful loving relationship is simple to understand! Yes, simple!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The Cinderella Story is a wonderful story. It does, indeed, warm the heart. It certainly inspires. Love is always inspiring! But the truth is, it is an idealized version of falling in love that rarely ever approximates the reality or the truth of what love really means – of what love might mean for a lifetime. When young women hear the Cinderella story, they want to believe that their prince charming will sweep in with the wind. And for sure, every young man wants to find his Cinderella – someone to put the glass slippers on.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Tonight, we heard the sounds of love! Over the years we have seen love, felt love, heard about love, observed love, and been in love. But tonight, we heard the sounds of love! We heard love tonight through the magnificent sounds of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO), the second oldest symphony orchestra in the United States of America. David Robertson joined the SLSO as its conductor several years ago after a highly successful tenure as Conductor in Lyon, France.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. All too often in life, people fall in love blindly. They refuse to make note of how the actions of another person define them. They pay too much attention to words and way too little to actions. Here is an undeniable truth about people – actions speak louder than words! We know, you’ve heard this all before! But the truth is, you can, and must, judge a man by his actions and not by his words!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In the last several years a great deal has been reported about the purpose of marriage, lamenting the fact that Americans no longer consider children among the most important purposes of marriage.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The health benefits of marriage, both physical and emotional, have been well documented since the 1850’s when a British epidemiologist by the name of William Farr concluded that the unmarried die “in undue proportion” to those who are married. He offered, "The single individual is more likely to be wrecked on his voyage than the lives joined together in matrimony." We would offer that his conclusions of a century and a half ago still apply today.

The Purpose of Marriage - Is It To Have Children? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Every once in awhile you meet extraordinary people! We had that great pleasure recently in Long Beach, California. Our lives will never be the same! We looked in the faces of love and saw an extraordinary marriage! We have seen this look before, but this one was very special!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. You can learn a lot about love from a dog. Over the years, we have learned much about the essentials of a loving relationship by observing our dog, Jake. We are proud to tell you that Jake is truly a Wonder Dog. He is loving, caring, intuitive, intelligent, handsome, and a wonderful friend and companion. Frankly, we love him like a child. And the good news is, he loves us right back! And he loves us unconditionally! Jake is a mixed breed dog – half Golden Retriever and half Yellow Lab. He is a marvelous dog.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Hard to imagine. People seemingly happily married for 25 years suddenly and surprisingly seek divorce. At 25+ years, divorce is, in the scheme of things, very unusual. Twenty-five years is a very long time for humans! It comprises about a third of the normal human life. So, how does this happen? Or more succinctly, why is Maria Shriver considering filing for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger? Well, it’s really not all that complicated.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. While we have learned many lessons about great marriages from the thousands of interviews with successfully married couples around the world, we have concluded that what you do in the early stages of your relationship will go a long way towards determining the overall success and longevity of your marriage. Here are the seven most important issues we learned through our research that should be discussed before getting married:

It's a fact. There are a lot of people who feel unhappy in their marriage. But the real question many of them are asking themselves is, how do I know when my marriage is really over? Is it when your spouse says, "I don't love you anymore?" Is it after an affair takes place? How do you REALLY ...It's a fact. There are a lot of people who feel unhappy in their marriage. But the real question many of them are asking themselves is, how do I know when my marriage is really over? I

Successful Marriage: The Secrets Revealed By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The “heart of the matter” is this – successfully married couples report a high level of satisfaction with the way they communicate. They talk about everything and anything with each other—there are “No Sacred Cows.” Great couples attribute their marital success first and foremost to the fact that they have honed their communication skills over time.

By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our thousands of interviews around the world over the past three decades, we have discovered many truths. Among these are the warning signs of a failing marriage and relationship. The telltale signs of a relationship going down the tubes are very clear. We want to share them with you because while most marriages are worth saving, there are times when “getting out” of a bad relationship maybe in your best interest!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. You can learn a lot about love from a dog. Over the years, we have learned much about the essentials of a loving relationship by observing our dogs. We are proud to tell you that our Louie is truly a Wonder Dog. He is loving, caring, intuitive, intelligent, handsome, and a wonderful friend and companion. Frankly, we love him like a child. And the good news is, he loves us right back! And he loves us unconditionally!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The on-line scams are numerous and recurring. Most of them cost you money. And worse! Just today, someone co-opted a friend of ours by using a fake email address similar to his and sending it to a zillion people asking them to wire him money. According to the fake message, he “had lost his bag with his money, his credit cards, and his passport” in England. Nothing could be further from the truth.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Successfully married couples literally trust each other with their lives, their wellbeing, and their sacred honor. The words they use to describe the one they love more often than not include words and expressions like trust, honesty, loyalty, respects me, admires me, always there for me, never lets me down, truthful, and never lies to me. Their trust for each other is about as complete as you can get.

Sex, Sex, Sex! By Charles D. Schmitz, Ph.D. Elizabeth A.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Every once in awhile you meet extraordinary people! We had that great pleasure recently in Long Beach, California. Our lives will never be the same! We looked in the faces of love and saw an extraordinary marriage! We have seen this look before, but this one was very special!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are often asked this question – “Is arguing healthy for a marriage?” The simple answer is, “Yes!” When a husband and wife argue, they are engaging in a perfectly normal and expected part of what it means to be married. In fact, disagreement between two people in love is actually healthy for their relationship. To argue or not argue is NOT the question! The question should be, “How do we argue effectively and fairly?”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Let’s face it, holiday lights help put you in the spirit of the season. Like the holiday lights, the people you love and who love you light up your life. “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays,rn‘Cause no matter how far away you roam, When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home.”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. “You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip.” This marvelous quote by Jonathan Carroll is from Outside the Dog Museum.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Okay, we are madly in love after all these years! We have been married for nearly 46 years and we cannot imagine life without each other. We are each other’s constant companions and wouldn’t want it any other way! But we must admit, we often think about “all the lonely people” who are, in their advanced age, all alone. They have no one with whom to share their days and nights with. Worse yet, no one to share their advancing age with.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Marriages and relationships fail. Love sometimes ends as the flames of love die out. What started out with so much promise sometimes ends as a disaster. Now the challenge is how to pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again. Here are the five important actions you need to take to avoid repeating the same mistakes from your failed relationship:

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. This week, we are on another one of our “love excursions!” As marriage researchers and writers (We have be engaged in this work for nearly three decades now!), we absolutely love to travel around the world and interview successfully married couples.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. WENN News reported that Madonna gave one piece of advice to the couple who got engaged during her recent Amsterdam concert. Madonna’s advice was, “ Never go to bed angry.” She just gave the couple the best advice possible. This is the same advice we have heard from thousands of successfully married couples who have lived on all seven continents of the world.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As we prepared for the work of the day this morning it dawned on us while watching a television show – there is a lot of bad advice about marriage and relationships in the popular media today. We watched these so-called “experts” wax on about what they believed to be “truisms” about love and marriage and the more we listened the more appalled we became about what we were hearing. Understand, we are very tolerant people. We are accepting of the opinions of most everyone.

Happily Ever After: It Can Happen To You! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors"

Do you love an alcoholic? How can you live with an alcoholic and love them at the same time? Very carefully. It’s true, it is very difficult to live with an alcoholic, but people do it all the time. Alcohol controls the mind and spirit of a person, so in affect as long as the alcoholic is ...

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Falling in love with another human being is easy, but making a commitment to love them forever is “up in the air” for many people. We like the term “up in the air” from the movie title for a whole bunch of reasons, primarily because it aptly describes the struggles so many folks go through when it comes to making a commitment to love somebody for a lifetime.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. My wife and I had a wonderful trip to the Los Angeles area last week. We enjoyed the sun and fun – even rented a convertible. The ocean off Malibu Beach and Santa Monica was grand and glorious – resplendent in sunshine. We got married on Santa Monica Boulevard 44 years ago and it was fun for this Missouri boy and his California bride to return to the place that started us on our amazing journey of love and marriage more than four decades ago.

By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Sex between two married people is a very beautiful aspect of marriage. God has blessed us with the ability to give and receive physical pleasure with the one we are married to. But when we give ourselves to another before marriage, sex becomes something else altogether. 1) Lust and Fornication Are Sins Why do you think God made fornication a sin? I mean, on the outside it seems like a lot of fun to have sex and to flirt with feelings of lust. No one is really hurting anyone, right? Wrong! Sex before marriage always, always hurts someone, and for many reasons which we will get into.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Hollywood, the media, and the Internet pundits have contributed greatly to the notion that the "abnormal" is "normal." Our research on all seven continents of the world over the past 30 years tells us clearly that "traditional norms" still predominantly prevail, but many, including the media, try desperately to depict a different scenario.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Who says celebrity marriages don’t last? We guess you might say, “They’d be wrong!”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Two recent and very powerful studies about the state of marriage in America offer irrefutable proof that marriage in America is in decline. A study by the Pew Charitable Trust, and another entitled the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, offer clear proof that marriage is in decline in America, particularly among the middle class and in the African-American community.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” (Tommy, age 6)

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Thirty years of research on successful love and marriage has taught us many things, but first and foremost – no love has blossomed or been sustained without doing the “simple things.” Big things don’t matter until your relationship has mastered the art of doing the simple things day in and day out in your relationship with another human being whom you purport to love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Often we wonder, silently and out-loud – why have so many good folks fallen prey to the lies and distortions about marriage in the USA promulgated by so many uninformed people or people with some kind of political agenda? Many times, they have an agenda protected by anonymous acrimony?

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have found in our 30+ years of research on successful marriage around the world that being married has huge economic advantages. Doubters have challenged us to “prove it!” The latest proof is in the just released special report by the Heritage Foundation entitled, Marriage: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty.

The Perfect Wedding: Jenna Bush to Wed Henry Hager By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Love and Marriage in Canada By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . We fell in love in Canada today. You can, of course, read that two ways.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. A few days ago we ran across a marvelous quote by Jonathan Carroll, author of Outside the Dog Museum. It goes like this: “You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip.”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In Middle America, marriage is in trouble! So say W. Bradford Wilcox of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and Elizabeth Marquardt of the Center for Marriage and Families Institute for American Values in New York City.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (The Constitution of the United States of America)

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We just returned from the trip of our lifetime together – all 47 years of it. We spent ten days on the continent of Antarctica. Oh, my, what a wonderful trip it was! As human beings, we will never be the same!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts You spent a lifetime together raising children, going to work, going to meetings, and in general, meeting everyone else’s needs. Whether one or both of you worked outside of the home, you are now retired, together in the house alone . . . just you and your spouse . . . now what? If you are among the lucky ones, you will get to retire someday and spend more time with your spouse.

iPod Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . When the iPod came on the market several years ago, we were one of the first “kids” on the block to own one. Since we have been Mac users since the 80’s, buying one of these babies was a natural thing for us to do.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Governor Romney was correct when he made the statement in the second Presidential Debate that “ . . . if there’s a two parent family, the prospect of living in poverty goes down dramatically. The opportunities that the child will be able to achieve increase dramatically.”

Lasting Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . Lasting love, ‘til death do us part. Married couples repeat this stanza or some variation of it in most marriage ceremonies.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We know, we hear them all the time – those purveyors of half-truths, un-truths, and political agendas. You know the ones – the ones who continually pronounce to the world that traditional marriage is dead. Well, all we can say is – don’t believe it!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Never, ever assume that Valentine’s Day – that once-a-year celebration of love – can take the place of 365 days of your expressions of love throughout the year.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Ah, wedding season. That time of year when brides and grooms say, “I do” and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, dreaming of “happily ever after” can create unrealistic expectations and lots of problems down the road.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have never heard anything as outrageous as the views espoused in a book entitled, A Gift for Muslim Couple, by Maulavi Ashraf Ali Thanvi. Us being sick to our collective stomachs is a gross understatement of the outrage we feel about the garbage articulated in this book.

There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors"

Love’s Essential Virtues By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Older adults between the ages of 57 and 85 make sex an important part of their lives! That’s the results of the first comprehensive national survey of the sexual attitudes and behaviors of older adults as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. And, as you might have guessed, our more than 25 years of research with successfully married couples offered the same conclusions.

Summer Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Are there ways to ensure that your marriage will be a successful marriage? The answer is of course, no. Life, love, and marriage do not come with absolute guarantees. However, there are ways to greatly increase your odds of having a successful marriage.

b>By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Dogs are amazing animals. As man’s best friend, they show us everyday how to love. We are proud to tell you that our dog, Louie, is truly a Wonder Dog. He is loving, caring, intuitive, intelligent, handsome, and a wonderful friend and companion. Frankly, we love him like a child. And the good news is, he loves us right back! And he loves us unconditionally!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We fell in love in Canada today. You can, of course, read that two ways. Those of you who have followed our writings and musings about love and successful marriage know that we fell in love with each other some 47 years ago. And it is true that we fall in love all over again each day of our lives together. But today, we fell in love with Canada!

A Symphony of Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . Tonight, we heard the sounds of love! Over the years we have seen love, felt love, heard about love, and been in love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Have you ever been to Venice, Italy? Wow, what a wonderfully romantic place! When you ride in a gondola together by Marco Polo’s house, stroll on St. Mark’s Square while holding hands, enjoy the grandeur of the Doges Palace, or share a bottle of Italian wine at one of the many intimate restaurants in Venice, you quickly learn that you are in a place where love transcends everything! Venice pulls at the heartstrings of love. Make no mistake about that.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We live in a world of mixed messages. Our world is neither black nor white. The world we live in is full of powerful emotions. And the truth is, the world we live in is complicated – so very complicated. And for those of us who have lived in this world for a long time – well, everyday poses new challenges to our worldviews – to our “traditions.” At this stage of life, being open-minded is a virtue. On the other hand, being open-minded at this stage of life is difficult – it is complicated.

A New Year’s Resolution You Can Keep! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Authors of the Best Relationship Book of 2008 INDIE Book Awards Gold Medal Winnerr Available at Golde Anniversaries.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and at Bookstores This will be our last posting as the Official Guides to Love on SelfGrowth.com.

Sex Will Not Save Your Marriage By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Once upon a time there was a wonderful television show called Cheers. It took place in Boston. Each day, the local patrons would gather at Cheers to discuss the events of the day, contemplate life’s burdens, explore life’s joys, and cry over a beer while they shared their sorrows. The theme song of the show always reminded those who watched it that it was nice to go to a place “where everybody knows your name.” Cheers was wildly popular as a television show.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Guests on a recent morning TV show offered the following piece of “scientific fact” – “A woman will test the loyalty of her man each and every day!” Oh, really? As love and marriage experts for over three decades, we have NEVER had one single successfully married couple express this to us during our interviews. Not one! Where does this stuff come from?

Tango Buenos Aires: The Look of Love! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz "the marriage doctors"

Parents, Love and Holidays By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. While we normally write positive stories about successful marriage, a recent interview caused us to alter course, albeit, temporarily. A few weeks ago we interviewed a woman who had recently gotten divorced. Her story was so emotional and impactful that it had to be told. The pain and suffering caused by the dissolution of an abusive marriage is unfortunately all too common.

How Do You Know Love? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The holiday season is a time of celebration. It is a time to be with family and friends. It is a time to be with the one you love. The holiday season is not a time for stress!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have constantly and relentlessly pursued this question in our interviews around the world – “Do the great marriages have a Cinderella life?” And the answer is – drum roll please! – NO! Too often, people assume that those who have the most successful marriages live in some kind of la-la land – a perfect world – a place where everything is fair, just, and beautiful – a Nirvana land! Here’s the truth – nothing could be further from the truth!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. One of the many important caveats about marriage is this – children change the dynamics of a marriage. Make no mistake about that.

"the marriage doctors"

A Golden Anniversary With A Dancing Twist By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Authors of the Best Relationship Book of 2008 INDIE Book Awards Gold Medal Winnerr Available at Golde Anniversaries.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and at Bookstores Today, we were told a delightful story about life and love, and dancing.

What’s Love Got To Do With It? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In Middle America, marriage is in trouble! So say W. Bradford Wilcox of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and Elizabeth Marquardt of the Center for Marriage and Families Institute for American Values in New York City.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. While we acknowledge that some one-in-five new relationships in the USA currently begin on the Internet through on-line dating services, we also note that there are risks associated with utilizing these services. Before you “jump-in” to on-line dating be aware of the risks involved.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Understanding Antarctica and the challenges faced by anyone attempting to live and work there explains the adventuresome nature of the couples we interviewed. Antarctica has the coldest, driest, windiest, and harshest climate on Earth. Living there, even for short periods of time, is not for the faint of heart.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Even though the media likes to make you think all celebrity marriages end in sensationalized divorce, what the media doesn't tell you is that there are many celebrity couples with great marriages.

Democracy and Love on a Beautiful Day By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Over the past 30 years, we have learned much about what makes great marriages tick – about what makes them successful. Even in spite of ominous odds from time to time, the best marriages survive and thrive, and we know why! They survive and thrive because they are committed to the Core Values present in all great marriages and successful loving relationships. Here they are in a nutshell.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As we have said for many years, “Most marriages and relationships are worth saving and can be saved, but not all!” Here’s what we mean. In the case of abuse – sexual, physical, mental – many failing marriages and relationships are simply not worth saving. In fact, to attempt to save them puts one or both partners in the relationship at risk for further abuse.

Observing Love On Valentine's Day By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

I Don’t Want To Be Lonely Anymore We all have the desire to find someone special that we can share our life with. We want someone to be able to talk to when we are excited and to brag to when something great happens to us. We really want to do those things with someone that we know cares about us and gets excited with us. Why?r

What Are The Simple Things Matter In Love and Relationships? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

It is NOT Okay to Cheat on the One You Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In the September 14th edition of the Huffington Post an article entitled, Prenuptial Agreements Are They Necessary? Two Legal Experts Debate, causes us to chime in on this important debate based upon our 30+ years of research on successful marriage around the world.

Learning To Love And Laugh By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Traditional Versus Same-Sex Love and Relationships By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Truth is, we miss our parents and our grandparents. True to the natural course of life, they are all gone now. They were parents in life and, in many ways, parents in death. They all lived long lives. They all lived full and productive lives. And they all loved the Holiday Season because of the simple things. The Holiday Season is truly a season for all.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Lots of people purport to be “love and marriage experts.” The Internet is full of those who claim to be. We, like you, read their pontifications every day. But the truth is, most of those who say they are, ARE NOT! Here’s why.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We know very well how important it is to rebound in a timely manner from a failed relationship. Of the thousands of couples we have interviewed over the past 30 years on all 7 continents of the world, many of them were remarried after suffering through a relationship that didn’t work. And irrespective of the reason, there is a “pace” to take when building a love that lasts.

Seasons of Baseball and Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our interviews around the world over the past 30+ years we have come to appreciate the wonderful advice we have received from happily and successfully married couples. At the top of the advice list from these couples is this simple notion – great marriages require unencumbered time and time to be alone!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We are often asked, "What is the best definition of Narcissism of which you are aware?" For us, there is a simple answer. It is our strong belief that the Mayo Clinic has posited the best definition and it follows:

The Perfect Wedding Gift By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

The Purpose of Marriage: A Response to the Pew Research Center By Charles D. Schmitz, Ph.D. Elizabeth A.

Why Is Love Blind On Valentine’s Day? By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

We’d Do It All Over Again! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz "the marriage doctors" and Authors of the Book Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (Available at Amazon.com) . Yesterday in Providence, Rhode Island, 300 married couples said, “I do,” all over again. Isn’t that wonderful!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts Give a Valentine’s Day present of touch to the one you love. What could be better or more meaningful? Here’s why it could just be the best Valentine’s Day present ever. We have been married for 42 years and simply can’t keep our hands off of each other! For many years, we thought we were unique. Then we started our research for our book, and did we get a big surprise -- virtually every happily married coupled we interviewed reported the same condition!

Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage Makes a GREAT Wedding or Anniversary Giftr Also available at Amazon.com and your local bookstore Let’s get serious about love! Truth is, it’s time to quit pretending that love is so hard to understand.

A Lifetime of Valentine’s Days By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Memorial Day and Love Forever By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays,rn‘Cause no matter how far away you roam, When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home.” This very popular song's lyricist, Al Stillman, was born in New York and was a writer for Radio City Music Hall for 40 years.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The feeling of togetherness is one of the key ingredients of a successful marriage. It is the feeling of “we are in this together and are stronger because of our relationship.” While the importance of togetherness is easy to understand, for many couples it is difficult to put into practice in their relationship.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts A parent’s love is with you everywhere. Every time you are far from home you are never alone. Your parents are always with you. They think about you. They worry about you. They always love you. They love you no matter what. Truth is, most parents have unconditional love for their children – no matter the age of the parents or the children. Charley’s Dad, rest his soul, died nearly three years ago when he was 88 years old.

Fully-Grown Love Never Fails By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

To Brazil With Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. “Love means never having to say you are sorry.” This line from the wildly popular 1970 book (and subsequent movie), Love Story, by Erich Segal helped it become the New York Times number one bestseller and the top selling work of fiction for all of 1970 in the United States. It was translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. The motion picture of the same name was the number one box office attraction of 1971, according to Wikipedia.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The Seven-Year Itch is real according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There were a number of interesting highlights reported in the U.S. Census Bureau’s press release entitled “Most People Make Only One Trip Down the Aisle, But First Marriages Shorter.” The one that piqued our interest the most was the following: “On average, first marriages that end in divorce last about eight years.” This phenomenon has often been referred to as the “Seven-Year Itch.”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. When serious issues occur, successfully married couples report a high level of satisfaction with the way they communicate with each other. They attribute their marital success first and foremost to the fact that they have honed their communication skills over time.

Marriage Is Alive And Well On Valentine’s Day* By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

A Special Kind Of Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

The Loving Touch By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Today, we were on an hour show with a “blow-torch” radio station, talking about love, relationships, and Valentine’s Day. We had a blast! It is always fun reaching the folks with our positive message about our more than 30 years of research on love and marriage on all seven of the world's continents in 47 countries.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Here we sit gazing at the beautiful turquoise blue ocean from our perch on the balcony of our room at the Marriott Casa Magna in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. We are conducting interviews of successfully married couples in Mexico as we continue our travels around the world searching for the best marriages. Today we had the pleasure of interviewing Isabel and Luis, two lovebirds who have been married for 33 years.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As the old song goes, “Breaking up is hard to do” – whether that breakup is due to death or falling out of love – the pain is still not minimized. It is hard to start over. It is downright challenging to find true love again.

One of the most important factors of a wedding is the wedding photography. The wedding photography is what is left when everything else has been packed up and put away. It's the pictures that will be looked at by generations to come. Photographs are the most tangible item you walk away with. Therefore, it is imperative to hire the best photographer for your tastes Wedding photography is the photography of activities relating to weddings. It encompasses photographs of the coup

"Pre Wedding Jitters VS. Second Thoughts" C. 2009 by Pamela Smale Williams LPC LMFT AAMFT AASECT The ring has been chosen and placed on the bride-to-be’s left hand, a symbolic representation of the circle of love that will follow and is accompanied later by the glorious wedding band that tells us she is dedicated to her husband. Showers, parties, wedding plans and in law problems start to arise. Schedule conflicts, budget conce s, honeymoon dilemmas, housekeeping questions…. these seem small in comparison to the ultimate major conundrum, “do I know what I’m getting into”?

The Look of Love in Brazil By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #2 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

Love in Ipanema By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Based on a combination of academic research and the real world experiences of my clients in long term gay relationships, the following are six practices that can enhance and maintain relationships over a lifetime: “The Greet”: Dogs are the acclaimed experts of this practice. They know how to greet their people when coming home. With their entire bodies they demonstrate they are grateful that you are a part of their lives. It’s a key reason we become so attached to them. You

Memories of Love at La Mediterranee By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

For Love and Tuna Melts! By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #3 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. There is an essential character element in love and marriage. People who say they love each other and then lie on a regular basis or cheat on their spouse aren't really in love. Oh, many think they are, but they really are not. People who love each other exhibit character when it comes to their marriage or relationship.

“A Narcissist is someone who after taking the trash out gives the impression he just cleaned the whole house” Have you ever got the sense that your partner thinks he/she is generally superior to you, or more entitled to things than you are? Does he/she find a host of ways to devalue you or ignore you? Does he/she try to control you? If so, you may be living with a Narcissist. If you are in a relationship with a Narcissist, it will be a one-way relationship, as he/she is particularly self- absorbed.

Traditional Marriage Is NOT Dead By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Love By Dancing By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. As we say repeatedly, the little things matter in love and marriage. Do the little things and your marriage or loving relationship will prosper. Charley learned his lesson nearly a half-century ago! He grew up in a rural area of Missouri back when outhouses were more prevalent than toilets that flushed! When we first got married some 47 years ago, Charley, “the consummate gentleman” as Liz refers to him, had to learn an important lesson about toilet seats.r

When we look at both of these styles of “getting to know people” and “having friendships” at face value, it appears they are the same. But Godly courtship is far superior to dating because it is scripturally sound and does not hurt people. Dating is a worldly, cultural way to meet people for the purpose of having sex. Sex is a prerequisite of dating. Both parties have within their perception and attitude that having sex during the dating process is what is expected of them. Parents, if your teenage daughter is dating she is most likely also having sex.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #6 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Are you tired of making New Year’s resolutions you know you won’t keep? We all do it. How about we do something different this year? This is the time of the year when so many of us make promises to ourselves and to others that we rarely ever keep! These so-called “New Year’s Resolutions” sound good when we make them but, all too often, we ignore them by Valentine’s Day.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We will be honest with you up front -- we are huge fans of Country music! Like a lot of Country music fans these days, we are impressed with Country superstar couple, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. To say they are awesome entertainers is an understatement! And from all reports we’ve seen and their public interactions with each other, their marriage is pretty awesome as well.

Married couples can separate because of various reasons - each of them simple and yet at the same time very complicated. Whether your marital troubles were caused by long-term business travels, military service, or other relationship problems, the result is usually the same: separation. Coping with the unsettling feelings of loneliness and isolation that are inherent in a separation can be rather difficult, and spouses need to find appropriate coping mechanisms. It's a toss u

My Valentine My Love By Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitzr "the marriage doctors"

Here are 7 steps to marriage reconciliation that will prayerfully put you and your spouse back on the right track. 1. Swallow Your Pride - The Bible says, pride comes before the fall. That means pride will always lead to your destruction. In this case, the destruction of your marriage. So take a long hard look at yourself. That's right. Even if you believe your partner is the blame for the breakdown of your marriage. Examine yourself to see what you could have done differently. Now accept responsibility for your actions and be willing to admit your mistakes.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Here’s the rub – being IN love is easy. It expresses an emotion common to those relationships that have transcended the millennia. Being in love is central to the best marriages – to the best relationships between two people. But being in love is NOT enough!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Increasingly, there are folks who post lots of vacuous stuff on the Internet who purport to be experts. They imply through their postings that they are all-knowing – that they have actually written widely about their topic, done the research to support their pronouncements, and have the requisite credentials to be taken seriously. Some – for mysterious reasons – even highlight the fact that they are “former” professionals in this or that field.

Are you a controlling wife? Do you take your husband for granted? Most women don’t realize it but they abuse their husbands daily just by their actions. Many women of today feel that marriage revolves solely around them and their husband’s are supposed to give them everything their heart ...

When it comes to Christian finances, some mistakenly have the idea that the separation of 'his' and 'hers' continues even after the wedding ceremony. But trying to keep 'his' and 'hers' from mingling leads to all kinds of problems with marriage and money. In a Christian marriage, there is no separation in what belongs to him or her. It isn't your money or my money, it is our money.

Are there significant signs your man is cheating?At some point, you may realize in the middle of the relationship that it is no longer working, that it is not healthy anymore and that you are not happy to be with each other's arm. Any suspicion of cheating or doubt in the relationship can put a great tension in the relationship.You want the relationship to be built on trust yet things just come so unexpectedly and unconsciously.So, do you believe that your man is cheating on

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. The most famous line from the wildly popular 1970 book (and subsequent movie), Love Story, by Erich Segal is, “Love means never having to say you are sorry.” As a New York Times number 1 bestseller, the book became the top selling work of fiction for all of 1970 in the United States, and was translated into more than 20 languages worldwide according to Wikipedia. The motion picture of the same name was the number one box office attraction of 1971.”

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. A recent report out of Israel suggests that a successful marriage substantially reduces the chances of stroke for men. It seems that if you are a man and UNhappily married, you have a 64% GREATER chance of having a stroke! The report concludes that men in unhappy marriages have a 64% higher risk of stroke when compared to those happily married. Pretty good incentive to be happily married we’d say!

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #7 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #5 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

Most young women “give in” to their boyfriend’s sexual advances because of peer pressure and fear they will leave the relationship if they don’t give in and have sex. This is precisely why young people today should NOT ALLOW their emotions to lead the relationship. Let me ask you this. If you become emotionally attached and they leave you anyway, how are you going to feel then? Isn’t it better to not become too attached to someone, at least until there is a commitment? Sex between two people is not needed for a commitment to marriage and anyone who says differently is deceiving you.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Being honest and trustworthy is at the heart of all the best loving relationships we have studied. In our thousands of interviews with happily married couples, we are always struck by their undying trust in each other. They literally trust each other with their lives, their entire wellbeing, and their sacred honor.

Let's face it: Given enough time, arguments are an inevitable part of every single relationship – even the happiest ones. We All Argue It doesn't matter how great your marriage relationship is or how happily married you are, it is practically guaranteed that, at some point, you and your spouse will argue over ...

So you are unemployed. You are unemployed, your spouse or significant other is employed, or you are reading this in an attempt to help someone who is. It should not be a surprise that unemployment impact relationships. However, it may be a difficult task to talk to someone who is unemployed without feeling guilty. You may feel you are adding to the pressure they are already experiencing because they are unemployed. You may also feel as if you do not know what to say.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Anyone who gets married and doesn’t understand that their life will be altered in an unalterable ways, henceforth, doesn’t know love – doesn’t understand love. Love and marriage changes everything. Love and marriage changes everything about your love and YOUR life. If you don’t understand the ramifications, don’t get married. If you want a co-author for your life – get married!

Can a marital separation save a marriage? Usually my opinion is: it depends… Whether the separation will help or hurt the marriage is unknown, unless you know the couple, have listened to them and assessed their mental state. Needless to say, a professional marriage counselor should feed-back his or her gained impression to the couple. Since the outcome could go either way, depending on what each of them really wants, this tactic should be an important topic during the marriage counseling sessions.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. We have often wondered over the years if the “stuff” that makes marriages work in the Judeo-Christian tradition around the world applies to marriages in predominately Muslim countries. Our first country in which we interviewed married Muslim couples was the enchanted nation of Morocco.

The wedding reception song list you end up choosing can compliment the evening. I recommend picking out your wedding song list early in the planning stages. There are many recommendations on typical wedding song lists. Choose music that is an expression of your feelings and fits with the general theme of the wedding. WEDDING GRAND ENTRANCE SONGS Your reception is a party and the grand entrance is the first chance you get to express the vibe you want your wedding reception to

How Husbands Disrespect Their Wives Husbands who stare at, or flirt with other women may not think they are being disrespectful, but it is very hurtful to their wives. The bible talks about this in detail about how a man is to love his wife. “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)

The phrase "My wife left me", has become a common phrase echoed in many Christian homes. While the phrase itself is grammatically small, the implications behind it are rather large. Why on earth would a Christian wife simply pack her belongings and walk out? Well, there are a number of reasons why she might do this, but one thing is for certain, and that is, her decision to leave was not an ove ight decision. It's a decision that likely came after months or years of being unhappy. Perhaps, it's a result of physical or verbal abuse.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our recent trip to France reinforced for us something we already anticipated – marriage is alive and well in France.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Strengthen Your Marriage Tip #4 Happy marriages all require simple, practical acts. Simple gestures. Simple conversations. Success in love and marriage depends upon an accumulation of having done the simple things to build the foundation for a lasting love.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. When we said our marriage vows 48 years ago and promised “Until Death Do Us Part,” we never imagined those 48 years would go by so quickly. But they did. This year, we will celebrate our 48th Wedding Anniversary. Just imagine, being successfully married for 48 years! And as a friend of ours used to say, “And to the same person!” Having a <a href="http://www.simplethingsmatter.com/articles/Successful_Marriage.htmlr

Many of you reading this may not know that God designed marriage to work according to the way he created the man and the woman. Each gender has its own marital duties that when practiced appropriately make the marriage thrive. “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:3) What are the martial duties that scripture is talking about? Understand that in a Christ-built marriage the husband has responsibilities and the wife has responsibilities, lest the marriage would have no purpose and no direction.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Over the past 32 years, we have studied successful marriage in the United States and around the world. In our just-released book entitled How to Marry the Right Guy

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Following the death of a spouse or the loss of a spouse through divorce, many individuals are “thrown on the street again” when it comes to finding love. And let’s face it; finding love again can be very, very challenging.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. It is hard to accept by many, but love sometimes ends. Marriages fail. Relationships collapse. The flames of love die out. What started out with so much promise sometimes ends in disaster.

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. For the past several years the economy has been in decline, the unemployment rate has gone up, and home ownership has taken a dip. Sometimes, watching the Evening News causes one to wonder if the good old USA is in decline, if the financial state of America has caused marriages to crumble, love to decline, and people to forget the greatness of the nation we live in.

Many interfaith/Jewish weddings include the Seven Blessings. I was asked to officiate a ceremony, with a Secular Humanistic non-theistic Hebrew/English version of the Seven Blessings. I searched for a Hebrew version (I found only one or two), and nothing I found felt right, so I resolved to write one myself. It was important to me to preserve most of the original words, which would give it a traditional feel, and enable me to chant the blessings in the traditional tune. I als

By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. Our heartfelt congratulations to Ann and John Betar of Fairfield, Connecticut on the occasion of their 81st Wedding Anniversary! Worldwide Marriage Encounter has verified that the Betar’s are the longest married couple in America. When they took their vows “Until death do us part,” they meant it!! There are many articles about their <a href="http://www.simplethingsmatter.com/articles/Successful_Marriage.htmlr