Weddings Tailored To Friends And Family

(NAPSI)-Tradition has it that the "big day" belongs to the bride and groom. Yet from the bachelor party to catching the bouquet, the "Hokey Pokey" to the "Electric Slide," it's the happy couple's friends and family who help make the occasion memorable.

You Look Marvelous!

The bride isn't the only person at a wedding who feels the need to look her absolute best. Friends and family feel the same way. According to a survey conducted by Kelton Research for Doubletree Hotels, more than three in five (63 percent) put extra effort into looking their very best, including buying new clothes (53 percent), changing their hair (23 percent) and losing weight (17 percent).

Food For Thought

What's the formula for a terrific wedding? How about friends and family, a big meal and plenty of celebratory drinks? One in three (33 percent) Americans most look forward to the food at weddings they've attended while nearly one in eight (13 percent) look forward to the open bar.

Party People

When invited to an out-of-town wedding, nearly half (45 percent) of Americans most look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with friends or family. Meanwhile, getting away from home and work is enticing for one in five (20 percent) parents, compared to 13 percent of those without kids. Another aspect of the wedding that guests often look forward to is the location of the reception-and that's one thing that the happy couple has a little more control over.

For example, Doubletree Hotels and Resorts are an excellent choice for planning a wedding that is luxurious, simple or intimately detailed. Whether planning for the rehearsal dinner, reception or just a comfortable and affordable place to host friends and family, Doubletree's careful attention to detail and variety of amenities help ensure the wedding party and guests enjoy a relaxed stay.

Grab The Popcorn

And how do the bride and groom's guests get themselves in the mood to celebrate? With their favorite wedding flicks, natch. With all the food, revelry and libations going around, it's no surprise that America's favorite wedding movie is "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (25 percent). The R-rated, edgier comedy "Wedding Crashers" comes in second at 16 percent.

For help planning your next wedding or event, visit Web sites such as www.doubletree.com/weddings. The site offers useful tips that include location information, a wedding planning checklist and help creating a personalized Web page.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Women Use Friendship to Tackle Domestic Violence

(ARA) - Whoever first said that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” certainly knew what she (or she) was talking about. Good friends encourage you to live your dreams, and stand by you through good times and bad. And, as one recent poll shows, women are most likely to confide in a friend when they are facing violence in their home.

“Women draw support from friendship on so many levels, from sharing beauty secrets and common experiences to dealing with life’s ups and downs,” says Shelley Simmons of The Body Shop, whose recent global survey revealed that 59 percent of women are most likely to confide in a friend if affected by domestic violence. “Social misconceptions about domestic violence may make women feel more comfortable confiding in a friend whom they can depend on for caring, nonjudgmental support.”

No one is certain exactly how common domestic violence is since many cases probably go unreported. The U.S. Justice Department, however, estimates the number of annual cases somewhere between 960,000 and 3 million. Across all age groups and social strata, women experiencing violence in the home are far more likely to turn to a friend for help than anyone else, including police, health care providers and support groups, The Body Shop survey shows.

“With the approach of International Friendship Day in August, it’s a great time for women to get educated on how to recognize the signs of domestic violence and what to do to help a friend going through it,” says Simmons. The Body Shop’s 2008 Stop Violence in the Home Campaign focuses on how friendship can provide a lifeline to women in crisis, and promotes education on how women can help each other if they are facing domestic violence. Also, for every “For Me, For You” Shea Lip Care Duo sold, the company will donate $9 of the purchase price towards domestic violence prevention, education and rescue.

Tell-tale signs a woman is experiencing violence in the home include:

* She has become quiet or withdrawn from friends.
* She ends phone conversations suddenly when her partner appears.
* Her friends feel unwelcome or tense when her partner is around.
* She shows signs of difficult-to-explain bruises or cuts.
* She has mentioned that her partner is possessive or jealous.
* Socially, she begins to see less of her friends.

“Once a friend confides in you about violence in her home, there are many things you can do to help her,” Simmons says.

* Be patient. Listen, but don’t judge. She must make decisions about her life in her own way and her own time.
* Don’t be critical of her partner, as this may make her feel ashamed and prevent her from confiding in you again.
* Don’t give up if you lose contact with her for a while. She may temporarily retreat.
* Tell her that the violence isn’t her fault; it’s a choice and her partner is the only one responsible for his behavior.
* Remind her that domestic violence is illegal and the police have to investigate. Encourage her to seek confidential help from the police.
* Continue to support her and don’t give up on her. You may be her only lifeline.
* Finally, if you suspect she is in immediate danger, you have no choice but to go to the police. Saving her life trumps saving the friendship.

“You may not know someone who is dealing with domestic violence, but it’s still possible to help those who are,” Simmons says.

First, education is key. Teach your teen girls that domestic violence is never acceptable. Second, be the best friend you can be; you never know what emotional challenges a friend faces. Simply by sharing love, support and fun times, you could be giving support to a friend who needs it, even if you don’t know it yet.

Finally, support causes that raise funds for victims of domestic violence. “Not only does buying a ‘For Me, For You’ Shea Lip Care Duo support efforts to end domestic violence, it’s also a great way for someone to show a friend she cares and give her a gift that will make her feel good about herself,” Simmons says.

To learn more about how you can support the fight against domestic violence, or to find a store of The Body Shop near you, visit www.thebodyshop.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent