Wedding is an important occasion in everybody’s life. According to Hindu Epics one cannot be perfect without marriage.

That’s why marriage is given that much of importance in one’s life. So neither a male nor a female can be considered complete without marriage.
Wedding is not only the union of the two persons but also TWO FAMILIES.
Why do I emphasise on TWO FAMILIES....
Read on...

Many emphasised that marriage is 'Just about the 2 of Us'.
How true exactly is it?
To what extent is it 'Just the 2 of Us'?

Wedding preparations alone may kill a wedding.

Which hotel (Is it 5-star?)
How many tables (I have relatives from from Sabah, neighbours from the Kampong. More than half the guest are probably people you have never even heard of, let alone met before).
Dowry (I raised my daughter for 26 freaking years, surely I should get more than this?Sounds like a mother selling her daughter in a wet market?)
Jewellery (Si Dian Jing/ 4 pieces of Gold, in this days can be replaced with 4 pieces of Diamond) (You can't stinge on that, 24 carat gold is the minimal)
Wedding cakes (I have 100 over relatives and cakes have to be distributed to their doorstep.)

Let's talk a little about Wedding Vows.

Do you, __ take __ to be your (wife/husband)?
Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her/him, forsaking all others and holding only unto her/him?" ("I do")

"I __ , take thee __ , to be my (wife/husband) to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you.."

"With this ring, I thee wed; all my love, I do thee give."

Discussing Christian marriage vows can be one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding ceremony.
A lot of Christian single engaged couples stumble over Christian marriage vows because of one simple word: submission.

Many traditional Christian marriage vows, in an attempt to express what was thought to be the Bible’s teaching on wives submitting to their husbands, include one little phrase where the bride pledges to “love honor and obey” her mate.

Today, most Christian marriage vows of brides delete the “obey” part, and have replaced it with “cherish”. Some couples have actually had arguments over this issue, to the point of delaying the wedding ceremony.

Are wedding vows really that important?
Do people actually fulfil their wedding vows?

Are you noble and respectful to one another?
Is there mutual love and trust?
Are you sharing sorrows and joys?
Have you fufilled of spiritual obligations?
Are you leading a healthy and peaceful life?
Is this true companionship for being life-long friends?

The custom of exchanging rings may be the oldest and most universal symbol of marriage, but the origins are unclear.
The ring’s circular shape represents perfection and never-ending love.
Not the size and the clarity of the solitaire.
The rings are exchanged during the wedding ceremony and symbolise the love, faithfulness and commitment of the marriage union.
Not how rich and posh you have married.

Dreaming of a fairytale wedding, a perfect marriage?
Dream on....

Here comes the Post-wedding problems....

Who keeps the red packets given by relatives? (If relatives hand them to your parents, forget about getting them back. It naturally goes to them without questions asked. 'I raised you up, hello?')
Stay with your in-laws? (Monster-in-law in the making?)
Who is going to pay for the flat (It's under your name, why should I pay a single cent? Are you going to dump me in the Old Folks Home???)
Monthly allowance (I raised you up, I cook for you, I do the laundry for you. the list goes on...)
When can I be a grandmother? (You better bear me a son soon)
Any minor quarrels can tear down the house.

Planning for a divorce?
The evil lawyer is grinning from ear to ear waiting for money to roll into his pockets.
So is the devil.
It is glamourous to get married, divorced & remarried in Hollywood.
But we are not living in Hollywood...
Wake up!
This is Singapore, Small & Conservative Island.
Easy for the men to get away with it.
They will be labelled as Experienced.
And women?
Once a divorcee...always labelled as a divorcee.

Are you still dying to get married?

If you have a child,
Who gets the custody of the child?
Some bitches will be more than willing to abandon the child and look for another man to marry.
Afterall, who wants to buy 1 get 1 free?

Some bastards will go all out to fight for the custody and leave the innocent child home alone at the risk of being abused by a wicked stepmother.

My heart goes out to those single parents.
They have to deal with the grief, anger and loss of their spouse, yet be someone strong for the children.
They cope with the challenges of bringing up their children alone.
Many decisions to be made daily.
Tight budgets they have to struggle with.
The labels both single parents and children have to bear.
The painful story the single parents have to tell their children when they get older.
For some fortunate ones, support from their extended family brings a feeling of stability and strength.
Others find different ways.
Perhaps by shared parenting or combining families with another in a similar situation, while yet others join supportive organizations to meet other single parents and their children.

These days, society still does little to make room for a lone parent.
I am thankful I have a strong and happy family.