Love is all around.. the romance behind the weddings…

Well you have had some very tipi related practical advice from our blog the last few weeks, but this week we have decided to look at the background to our weddings. Why do we spend all that money? Why do we want everything to perfect? What is the reason we want to show everyone the love we have for this person we are marrying?

I am more than happy to admit that I am a big romantic at heart. I have spent many hours watching the classic Jane Austin Pride and Prejudice and I still hold my breath when our Elizabeth Bennett sees her Mr Darcy striding towards her, to embrace their very first kiss, IT MAKES THE HEART MELT…….

We thought with the most romantic day of the years approaching, we would get all loved up and recap with some of favourite love stories and characters throughout time.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

In the 1996 film, do you remember the moment Romeo sees Juliet through the fish tank for the first time, the bashful grin and flutter of the eye lashes. We have all had this happen to us, I am sure! Our stomach turns to knots and we don’t seem to be able to string a sentence together, also familiar to us as “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT”

Romeo and Juliet have been with us since 1594, in books, on the stage and in film and I am sure this beautiful but tragic love story has touched even the most pragmatic souls out there. This is a perfect example of a love story and the enchanting feeling of love at first sight. William Shakespeare wrote about these two young “Star Crossed Lovers”, who fall deeply in love, together with the agonising wrench of heart break caused by the fact their families are long rivals and that their love for each other would never be accepted. Yet, their love is so powerful, their unfortunate circumstances do not stop them from giving their whole heart to each other and they embrace their relationship by joining in holy matrimony.

When you truly do love someone, you will do anything for them and you will never want to let them go.

“Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” (2.2.185-186)

FLIRTING

“I like large parties, they’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” The Great Gatsby

I love a good flirt, flirting is so exciting, innocent, cheesy and is something that everyone enjoys when it goes well! It has to be said that the endless amount of chat up lines out there, we could definitely create our own flirting encyclopaedia; I definitely have a few one liners that I could add to it.

The award for top charmer however has to go to the oh so smooth and endearing Bond, James Bond, license to thrill! And here are just a few of his perfect one liners:

Best Bond Chat up lines

 LOVE LETTERS

We have probably all at least mentally written a love letter to someone we admire from afar, even if we may not have sent them! And these letters probably include some of our inner-most passionate thoughts. Some of us may even have put the thoughts onto paper at some point during our lifetime whether in a letter or in a diary, under lock and key.

I recently watched the film “The Young Victoria” and I was truly touched by the relationship between Queen Victoria and her dearest Albert. Victoria and Albert only met on a couple of occasions before they were engaged, but Victoria admired him from very early on and the feeling was mutual. As Victoria had become queen in 1837, she was in no hurry to be married but did rejoice in the knowledge that it was hoped they would be married one day. Their growing affection was kept alight through the letters that they wrote to each other. These may not be the most romantic of letters – it wouldn’t do for the Queen of England to be openly passionate in her writing, but you can certainly see how strongly they truly cared for each other.

From a letter written by Albert to Victoria following their engagement: “I need not tell you that since we left, all my thoughts have been with you at Windsor, and that your image fills my whole soul. Even in my dreams I never imagined that I should find so much love on earth. How that moment shines for me when I was close to you, but with your hand in mine! Those days flew by so quickly, but our separation will fly equally so. Ernest wishes me to say a thousand nice things to you. With promises of unchanging love and devotion, your ever true Albert.”

And one taken from Victoria’s Scrapbook:  “I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert … his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! … To be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!”

FIRST KISS

I remember my first kiss, do you remember yours? You’re nervous, your hands are clammy and your heart is racing, a thousand thoughts go through your head …….What to do next!

Well rather than go into more details about the lucky fellow who was my first kiss, I thought we could honour this life changing experience with my choice of the 10 most passionate Hollywood romances and kisses of our time. If you are anything like me and live for a good love story, then you will probably find yourself going home and putting on your favourite mushy romantic film tonight. Here are some the most romantic scenes I chose:

1. Drive – Elevator Kiss
2. Romeo and Juliet
3. 16 Candles
4. Twilight
5. Shakespeare in Love
6. Pride and Prejudice
7. Lady and The Tramp
8. Pretty Women
9. Titanic
10. Gone With The Wind

AND FINALLY THEY SAID “I DO” AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Well you must agree the wedding of the decade has to be given to our very own Prince Charming “Prince William, Duke of Cambridge” who married the very lovely Catherine “Kate” Middleton on 29^th April 2011. Their engagement was announced on 16^th November 2010 after being together for 10 years. I am sure there were many broken hearts out there, but you must agree our lovely Prince Charming has done pretty well finding his soul mate. The Dress, the music and OM Gosh did you see the cake! Just a little recap into their special day and can I say thank you to William and Kate on behalf of the nation for our public holiday.

Well if you are not all truly gooey on Love now and franticly looking for the Jane Eyre novel your Nan gave you, then I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the romantic comedy “Love Actually” where Hugh Grant (playing the prime minister) says:

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is, all around.”