Latest news with #fiancée
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Two Germans invaded my marriage proposal – and I couldn't be happier
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Last week I cajoled my – spoiler – fiancée onto the balcony of one of London's tallest buildings, got down on one knee, and presented her with a ring and an ad-libbed speech on her many wonderful qualities and why I'd like to make her my wife. My declaration of love didn't run as perfectly as I'd planned in my head. For one thing we live in uncertain times, and no one is allowed up to the top of a skyscraper without having first submitted to a trip through airport-style security. This is an inconvenience at the best of times, but if you've carefully placed a special ring in just the right pocket for a certain moment and then are forced to discreetly stuff it into your bag without revealing yourself, well, trust me, you'll be storing up trouble for later. For another, well, some of you might know that people are expected to arrange the photography of their special moments in advance. I didn't. I know, decades of publishing photography publications, yet somehow all the various ways wedding photographers increase their fees had still not quite reached my attention. I'd argue that it takes a certain bravery – or, to use the proper word, arrogance – to pay for, and secrete, a photographer on location in advance. I am not that brave, and certainly wasn't that confident. Nor, to be honest, do I see placing photographers around any area – let alone one I have little control over the timings of – as being especially romantic. Anyway, since I gave away the outcome already, I'll move straight on. My new fiancée, Ariane, and I, were both in a state of some bliss overlooking London but – honestly – absorbed entirely with ourselves when we were interrupted immediately after the timeless classic knee/ring/finger exchange. (Well, save for the delay in getting to the ring because of the security...) 'I do not want to intrude on your private moment' interrupted a distinctly German accent 'but I have filmed your proposal and wondered if you wanted the video before I deleted it.' Of course we did, and Ariane gave the German, Mattes, her number (yes, she was already giving other men her phone number two minutes into our engagement). Soon after, the video file arrived on her phone via WhatsApp, but not before another of his countryfolk had made a similar introduction: 'I think I did the same thing' said a German called Yazmin, in a no less Teutonic tone. Once again, my fiancée swapped numbers, and this time we got photos along with two videos. It transpired we were especially lucky to have these relatively youthful Germans taking unsolicited images of us, as the only other pictures we were able to capture were my own efforts to extend my arms for a selfie, and a pic snapped for us by a couple on the balcony celebrating their 50th anniversary. Sadly, we didn't quite arrange ourselves just right for these in all the excitement (okay, maybe a professional would have made us try again...). Moments later, we were forced to retreat from the balcony, luckily coinciding with the meal I'd booked in the restaurant on the 37th floor (I admit it, I was a little optimistic about the outcome…). Joking aside, I'd like to say a heartfelt thanks to the two strangers who captured such an unforgettable moment in a way I otherwise would have entirely failed to. The Sky Garden, however, is a tourist location in central London. If you get down on one knee, you do naturally become a bit of street theatre, but it is nice that some people are prepared to understand how their photos can matter and share them. Not everyone would have introduced themselves, but I'm glad they did, and it's great that phones give us the means to share images so easily. So if you're planning on proposing, my advice – as well as finding someone as amazing as Ariane – is to consider the advantages of being street theatre. Your rom-com can go international! You might also like... Check our guide to the best cameras for wedding photography, and why not check out the best instant cameras? They're fun at a wedding! Solve the daily Crossword
Times
a day ago
- Times
I eloped 7,000 miles to a paradise island — to avoid a pricey wedding
The Koolau mountain range, which formed nearly 2.5 million years ago after a cataclysmic volcanic explosion, spans the entirety of Oahu, the most populous Hawaiian island. Its lush green canopies roll for miles across its serrated ridges. Hidden streams snake through its forest floor. From its peaks, the Pacific stretches in all directions to the horizon. It was against this backdrop that my partner and I tied the knot this year in a ceremony low on stress and costs (compared, at least, with the average price of a wedding in the UK) but high on good vibes and 'aloha' — the Hawaiian greeting that expresses love, kindness, harmony. I had travelled nearly 5,000 miles, 11 hours by plane from New York, where I live and work. My wife — my fiancée, as she was then — works in Japan and had flown 4,000 miles from the opposite direction. We were exhausted, jet-lagged and slightly nervous as we drove to our wedding venue — a 400-acre botanical garden at the base of the Koolau Range. Why Hawaii? For us, it was an ideal meeting point; it made for a much nicer setting than the marriage bureau in New York and it meant that we could segue effortlessly into our honeymoon. Plenty of overseas visitors tie the knot here — the marriage licence office in Honolulu, the state capital, finalises the paperwork for dozens of Britons, Canadians and Europeans each month. Couples have their different reasons — from the paradisiacal allure of Hawaii, to the desire to flee the circus that has become the modern wedding. I'm knee deep in marriage season and have several friends who would say the cost and stress of their big day was not worth it (the average British wedding costs more than £23,000, according to a recent survey from wedding website Hitched). It helps that the process is straightforward. Six weeks before the wedding I applied for a £47 licence and booked in a 15-minute meeting with a marriage agent that took place the day before our wedding, at Hawaii's department of health; no witnesses required. For £91 a minister named Jim from the Universal Life Church who lived on Oahu said that he could marry us wherever and whenever we wanted. We decided on the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden. It lived up to our expectations — birds of paradise soared in the skies, the ocean sparkled in the distance and the horn of a nearby parked car honked midway through the ceremony, breaking any tension. It was simple and stripped back, but the beauty of the surroundings made us feel like royalty. Being close to the mountain range, where the weather is more unpredictable than on the coast, it also rained, but this only added to the magic of the moment as we huddled in a sheltered picnic spot while Jim, in a funky Hawaiian shirt, delivered his words. • Read our full guide to travel in the US After we said 'I do', we peeled away, umbrellas in hand, called our parents (who knew), flashed our rings and went straight to a local diner to start our honeymoon. We were splitting our ten-day break between Oahu, staying in an Airbnb in Honolulu, and Kauai, the oldest of the seven inhabited Hawaiian islands. After arriving in Honolulu, most tourists (us included) head straight to Waikiki, its beachfront neighbourhood. Our Uber driver described it as 'Hawaii's Times Square', and he wasn't far wrong — it's all trashy bars, street performers and overpriced food. We managed just one afternoon there. Far better were our forays into nature. We went to the North Shore for snorkelling at Shark's Cove, marvelled at the scenery of the Kualoa Ranch — where Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed — and hiked in the shadow of the Koolau Range. But Kauai, a 30-minute flight northwest from Oahu, delivered the Hawaii that we had been hoping for — it is far more rural and authentic. We stayed on its quieter north coast, home to small towns such as Hanalei, where shaved ice drenched in syrup is served by the bucketload and the sun sets majestically behind the Napali coastline. One night we treated ourselves to a 45-minute helicopter trip that revealed inaccessible waterfalls, cliffs and rivers. The beaches here are also less busy, although more dangerous for swimming than those in the south of the island. Even so, we found one — Anini — with calmer waters where we were able to float alongside turtles. There was kayaking too, and for two miles we paddled up the Wailua River and into the heart of the island before continuing on foot to the sacred Secret Falls. Here you can bathe at the foot of a 120ft cascade that is sometimes a trickle, at other times times a roaring torrent, depending on the season. • 18 of the best hotels in Hawaii We visited the vast Waimea Canyon, the so-called Grand Canyon of the Pacific, which is ten miles long, up to 3,600ft deep and crisscrossed by a series of hiking trails. In what felt like an increasingly rare expression of authentic Hawaiian culture, we were privileged to watch genuine hula dancing at a local bar, the name of which I swore not to reveal — sorry. Our hotel, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, brought White Lotus levels of luxury to the experience with a room that offered views of a cliff edge under hanging vines and felt like a very upmarket jungle cabin. In 1 Kitchen, the hotel restaurant with bay views, we ate delicious coffee-crusted yellowfin tuna and bucatini with Kona shrimp. And, of course, we had a couples' massage in the top-of-the-range wellness centre. At the end of our stay it was heartbreaking to say goodbye to each other again — something we've done many times over the past year, but especially wrenching as newlyweds. Now we're counting down the days until we are finally reunited in New York. In the meantime, those magical aloha vibes will keep us going. Samuel Lovett and his partner were guests of Go Hawaii ( 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, which has B&B doubles from £940 ( and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, which has flights from £230pp ( Fly to Honolulu
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Is a marriage by video call legally valid for Muslims?
Question: I am a Muslim planning to get married soon with my fiancée, who is currently outside the UAE. Due to a recent job change, I am unable to travel to complete the marriage formalities in person. Is it legally permissible under the UAE law to conduct the wedding via video conference? If the marriage is recognised and legally registered, will I be able to apply for a visa to bring my wife to the UAE? Answer: The Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2024 on the Issuance of the Personal Status Law, which governs Muslim personal matters in the UAE, clearly structures the legal process of marriage and requires specific conditions to be fulfilled for a marriage to be registered by the UAE courts. According to Article 16 of the UAE Personal Status Law, a marriage is a civil contract between a man and a woman, which grants each party legally enforceable rights and obligations by Article 16, which reads as 'Marriage is a contract concluded by the provisions of this law with elements and conditions between a man and a woman to perpetuate the marital relationship between them. It establishes rights and duties among spouses, aiming at chastity and purity, and the establishment of a stable family that spouses care for with affection and mercy.' Furthermore, Articles 18 and 19 of the UAE Personal Status Law provide for the elements of marriage and the eligibility for marriage. A marriage should be registered with a competent UAE authority (such as the Dubai Personal Status Court in the Emirate of Dubai). This is by Article 41(1) of the UAE Personal Status Law, 'The marriage contract shall be documented in the court by the legislation in force.' A mandatory premarital medical test conducted at a UAE government hospital is required, as prescribed by court practice. The couple must meet all legal conditions and submit the necessary documents and medical examination reports. This is by Article 41 (3) of the UAE Personal Status Law, 'The marriage contract should fulfil the requirements and submit the documents and medical reports stipulated by the legislation in force in this regard.' Under certain circumstances, a marriage performed via video conference may be considered valid, subject to the approval of the relevant authority. You may contact Dubai Courts for further advice. However, you may get married outside the UAE. However, for such a marriage to be recognised within the UAE, the following is required: The marriage must be valid and legally registered in accordance with the law of the country where it is held. The marriage certificate must be: Upon completion of the aforementioned, you may be able to obtain a residence visa for your wife.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- The Sun
I had sex with my aunt on her sofa after impromptu skinny dip session – should I come clean to my wife?
1 DEAR DEIDRE: MY aunt seduced me when I was 18 and apart from my best friend no one else knows. We spent a whole summer entangled in her bed. Even though I'd already lost my virginity to a girl from my school, being with her was my real sexual awakening. She is my dad's younger sister and I'd gone to live with her as I'd got a temporary job in her city. We were left to our own devices and we made the most of our freedom. She is seven years older than me and one of the sexiest women I've ever met. One day, it was so hot and sticky we went down to a local swimming spot. We stripped off and I noticed her checking me out. That afternoon when we got home, she pounced on me asking to see my chest again. Within minutes we were having sex on her sofa. I've kept those memories of skinny dipping in the river and having sex anywhere and everywhere all to myself but now I wonder if I should come clean to my wife to be. I don't want to have any secrets from her and somehow it seems like I'm lying by keeping this from her - especially as my aunt will be at the wedding and I know my wife-to-be and she will meet. I'm 29 now and my fiancée is 27. We have a great relationship and I've never had any doubts about her but I'm worried this could come between us. We have spoken about our pasts and I admitted I'd had a crazy summer with a woman a little bit older, but I lied and said I'd met her through my job. So she knows part of the truth. After my job finished and I moved back home, my aunt and I agreed that would be the end of our affair. We didn't even stay in touch, only catching up at family gatherings. She is still as stunning as ever. She now has two young daughters and a long term boyfriend and I'd never want to jeopardise that. This isn't easy. What should I do? DEIDRE SAYS: This was no idyllic love affair and while it doesn't seem to have occurred to you, having a sexual relationship with your aunt, someone you are related to counts as incest. I must let you know that incest is a criminal offence. You were 18 at the time of this relationship barely an adult and your aunt had a lot more life experience than you. I'm afraid to say she took advantage of your inexperience and her behaviour could even be considered grooming. You have a difficult decision to make. If you tell your wife, it could taint your wedding day and open a whole can of worms. On the other hand your wife might feel more upset were she to find out from someone else further down the road, although this seems very unlikely as you've only ever told your best friend and your aunt has too much to lose to share the truth. You have a lot to work through and it would really help you if you were to see a counsellor, someone who could help you decide what are your next best steps. Dear Deidre's Incest Issues Deidre's mailbag is bursting with incest and relationship problems. One reader struggled to navigate her feelings for her long-lost cousin, while another found himself aroused after seeing sexy videos of his half-sister. And one man discovered his brother's sexual fling with their half-sister. Ask me and my counsellors anything Every problem get a personal and private reply from one of my trained counsellors within one working day. Sally Land is the Dear Deidre Agony Aunt. She achieved a distinction in the Certificate in Humanistic Integrative Counselling, has specialised in relationships and parenting. She has over 20 years of writing and editing women's issues and general features. Passionate about helping people find a way through their challenges, Sally is also a trustee for the charity Family Lives. Her team helps up to 90 people every week. Sally took over as The Sun's Agony Aunt when Deidre Sanders retired from the The Dear Deidre column four years ago. The Dear Deidre Team Of Therapists Also Includes: Kate Taylor: a sex and dating writer who is also training to be a counsellor. Kate is an advisor for dating website OurTime and is the author of five self-help books. Jane Allton: a stalwart of the Dear Deidre for over 20 years. Jane is a trained therapist, who specialises in family issues. She has completed the Basic Counselling Skills Level 1, 2, and 3. She also achieved the Counselling and Psychotherapy (CPCAB) Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Studies. Catherine Thomas: with over two decades worth of experience Catherine has also trained as a therapist, with the same credentials as Jane. She specialises in consumer and relationship issues. Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you. You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at: deardeidre@
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man Feels ‘Crushed' When Girlfriend Says the Engagement Ring He Proposed with Isn't ‘Impressive' Enough
After proposing, a man had misgivings about his new fiancée's reaction to the ring He said he picked a ring that "suited her style," though the woman seemed unhappy with his choice Redditors generally sided with the woman, noting that an engagement ring is meant to be worn for life — but that both partners should have an honest conversation to clear up any misunderstandingA man was proud of the ring he proposed with — but his new fiancée wasn't that impressed. In a post on Reddit's "Am I Overreacting" forum, a new fiancé shared his misgivings about his proposal to his longtime girlfriend — or rather her reaction to it. He had been planning to pop the question for months, and when the time finally came, the woman seemed more focused on the ring itself, he wrote. The couple had been together for three years prior, the man wrote, and recently he thought it was time to propose. He picked a ring he "thought she'd love," he said, which didn't have a huge stone, but he said it was "beautiful and suited her style." The ring itself cost around $6,000, and he only recently came into the funds to be able to afford it. "She said yes but the first thing she said when she saw the ring was 'oh... it's smaller than I expected,'" the man wrote. "Later she mentioned her friend's ring being bigger and said she thought I wouldve gone with something more 'impressive.'" The man tried to make light of it, but her comments stung, he said. It "crushed" him to think of that major moment in their relationship as tarnished by her disappointment. The whole thing feels "hollow" now, he added. Now, the man is wondering if her reaction is indicative of a larger issue: "If this is how she reacted to something that was supposed to be special and meaningful, what else will never be good enough?" Those in the comments, while justifying the man's emotional reaction, reinforced that just about everything about proposing should have been a conversation. Though the woman's comments and reaction may have been "tactless" based on the man's description, one commenter wrote, it's important to remember that an engagement ring is meant to be worn for the rest of her life. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Engagement rings are incredibly personal items, and she isn't out of line for wanting some input into how it looks and feels," the commenter wrote. Another noted that the man seemed to decide for her what "suited her style" — rather than discussing with her what she'd want. The user suggested the couple sit down together and have a conversation — about the man's hurt feelings and about the woman's ring preferences. That way, there's no misunderstanding. "Talk to the woman you love and find out what's actually wrong," they wrote. "If she's just superficial, it'll be clear quickly." Read the original article on People
