(via catholicsentinel.org) The popularity of the U.S. bishops’ website for strengthening and supporting marriage, foryourmarriage.org, continued to grow in 2010. According to a report from Google Analytics, the website received nearly half a million visits, a 23-percent increase over 2009.

The website offers practical information and resources for married and engaged couples and people in serious dating relationships. In addition to articles on all stages of married life, the website features a daily marriage tip, blogs, quizzes, book reviews, and marriage in the news.

The report found that articles on preparing for a Catholic wedding are especially popular. For Your Marriage has extensive resources for engaged couples, including the texts of suggested wedding readings and commentaries. It also offers information about music, ceremony options, interfaith marriages, and “Ten Tips” for planning a memorable wedding.

According to the report, visitors came from 213 countries or territories. Significant numbers came from the United Kingdom, Australia, the Philippines and India. Visitors from Ireland increased 500 percent over 2009.

The For Your Marriage website was launched in 2007 as part of the Bishops’ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage. Strengthening marriage and family life is one of the USCCB’s five priorities.

 
(photo courtesy of Oly Ruiz of Metro Photo)

Well, you’re not really invited, but you might as well feel like you were there merely by watching this onsite video.

Fact is, this is one of the few times an SDE (same-day edit) captured ample live audio snippets where viewers get a glimpse of the personality of the couple.  Their sense of humor shines through every clip in a familair Pinoy candor. To me, it felt like they were somebody I know personally.  The ceremony presided by a judge in Makati City Hall felt very relaxed, a refreshing departure from the ’sobfest’ we typically expect in a solemn church ceremony.

I know this is not a typical ‘get-it-over-and-done-with’ kinda civil wedding.  But who ever said that a civil ceremony should be plain non-event?

I’ve been told the couple wore a Randy Ortiz during the ceremony, after which, the bride slipped into a Paul Cabral creation in time for their Blue Leaf reception.  Add the fact that they got Jason Magbanua to do their video speaks that this is no ordinary civil ceremony.  Despite these, the video didn’t come off as trying to show off; on the contrary, it felt very spontaneous and unrestrained.  Unpretentious is the word.

Props to David & Jorene for proving that a simple civil wedding ceremony can be equally beautiful!

Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto gave us a heads up of his review of this new Canon camera.  Metrophoto has been one of the W@Wie favorites since they first appeared and participated in the free prenup sessions during last year’s W@W Christmas Party.

Here’s Oly talking about the general conditions when Metrophoto tried the new toy.

“Metrophoto was very blessed to get the chance to use and review the Canon 5D Mark 2 in just only a few weeks after its announcement. Thanks to John Chua and JayR Romero, we are the very first wedding photographers here in the Philippines (probably just second in the world after Steve and Jen Bebb’s review) to be able to get a hand on the only existing 5D Mark II in the country. Isn’t that just pure awesomeness? We had the camera the entire Saturday for our very magnificent engagement session with Migs and Denise where we shot on the sailboat in the murky waters of Manila Bay and then continued on to Nasugbu in Batangas where rain caught up on us and ruined (well, more of enchanted) our supposed-to-be sunset setting.”

See & hear the review in the video below.  The clips were taken by Shierdan Pamintuan (another guy who also had a taste of being a W@Wie favorite!) and his wife Jen.  Dan came along for the shoot to also check the video capabilities (full 1080p HD movie recording) of the new camera.  We’ll link his review here as soon as it’s up.

For the resulting images from this prenup shoot and additional tech review about Canon 5D Mark II, read Oly’s blog entrty.

(PRESS RELEASE) A woman’s wedding day is one of the most important events of her life. That is why a great deal of preparation goes into making this one day beautiful, personal, and memorable—not just for the bride and her groom, but for all who will share in the celebration.

To help every Filipina bride-to-be have the wedding of her dreams, Summit Media, the country’s leading magazine publishing company, brings Martha Stewart Weddings to the Philippines. With Martha Stewart brand’s signature creativity and style, Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines (the very first international edition of the title) will inspire a new audience of brides eager to make their wedding day truly special.

Martha Stewart Weddings is the leading resource for the bride who wants a wedding that is beyond the ordinary. Filled with fresh ideas, inspiring photographs, and how-to information, the magazine takes readers from the engagement to the honeymoon and beyond, into their new married lives.

Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines will take the best of the American edition and tailor it with ideas and inspiration developed especially for the Filipina bride.

The premiere issue of Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines features the best bridal ideas—from choosing a color scheme and theme for the wedding to selecting the wedding cake and bridal bouquet. This issue also helps brides look their best with a gallery of exquisite gowns and a feature on bridal hairstyles, as well as tips for the perfect wedding reception.

Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines is now available in newsstands and bookstores throughout the Philippines for P295 per copy.

Contact Details:

• Tata Mapa
  Editor-in-Chief
  tata.mapa[at]summitmedia.com.ph
• Tara Y. Santos
  Associate Publisher
  (contact for advertising and marketing inquiries)
  tara.santos[at]summitmedia.com.ph

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• Read the short Q & A with Martha Stewart talking about the magazine’s Philippine edition and weddings in general.

• Read an actual review of the magazine’s premiere Philippine edition by wedding planner, Ms. Bleu of Weddings by Bleu.

One quick glance and you’d think the couple in the picture is for real.  But look again! They’re actually made of polymer clay made to look specifically like the real-life couple. This work-of-art is masterfully done by US-based artist, Dawn Stubitsch of thumbprintkids.com, whose work we’ve featured in PrepTalk previously.  The meticulous attention to detail for the groom’s Barong Tagalog is particularly impressive.

To better see the finer details of this kasalan-inspired caketopper, click to this page.