By MARCINHO SAVANT

T’is the season for question popping, happy acceptances and nervous britches!  YES!  It’s the engagement season!

It’s fairly common knowledge that the greatest number of marriage proposals occur during the major holidays (starting near Christmas, through New Years Day and into Saint Valentine’s Day.

If you’re fairly stealthy in the wrapping of the ring box in an off-sized container, you might even be able to delay the wonderful impact of the surprise a few seconds more!

So now you’ve got the ring.  You’ve got the intended.  You’ve asked for their hand and spoken with the ‘rents…  what’s next?

Well if you’re the recipient of this special ring, take a deep breath, show your happiness to the ring presenter and get ready to start one of the greatest times of your life… working with a professional and designing your wedding!

It’s your day, BOTH of you, and an important first step is to locate a designer who will not only share their expertise and insider knowledge with you.  They should be extending vendor discounts and support from day one.

The FIRST panic will be about what to do next and here is some of our expert advice for couples on creating their wedding budget.  This is usually only shared with contracted clients but here you are!

“All Weddings Lead to Bankruptcy!” Here’s Help.

Take a look at that post and I’m pretty certain you’ll feel some instant relief knowing that the process is not carved in stone and destined to lead you into harm’s way.

With an expert on your team, to keep you out of the potholes and traps, planning YOUR wedding will be an honor for us and a PLEASURABLE and relaxed experience for you!

Are YOU ready for the zone!?

By News Channel 3
newsline3@kesq.com

Harvey Milk Day 2010: California Law Stipulates May 22
SB572 institutes an official Harvey Milk Day on May 22nd. It includes a provision that encourages public schools to hold commemorative exercises that familiarize students with Harvey Milk’s accomplishments and the contributions he made to California.

Recognition of Same Sex Marriage (minus the designation):
SB54 specifies that same sex marriages are recognized in California. The marriages must meet one of two qualifications: a) they must have been entered into legally during the period of time when California offered gay marriage; b) they must have taken place before 11-05-2008 in a state that legally performs same sex marriage.

Continue to full article here.

By Carlos Santoscoy;  ONTOPMAG.COM

Gay couples in New Hampshire will welcome the new year with champagne toasts and wedding rings.

New Hampshire joins Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont in legalizing gay marriage. Lawmakers in the District of Columbia have approved a gay marriage law expected to take effect in February.

via GayPolitics.com

Credit: GayPolitics.com

Same-sex couples won the right to marry in the nation’s capital Tuesday when the District of Columbia City Council voted 11-2 to pass a measure sponsored by openly gay council member David Catania.  Congress has 30 days to review the law before it takes effect, but Congressional leaders have already agreed not to block the law’s adoption.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, congratulated Catania on the victory:  ”There are many people to thank today, but this community owes a special debt of gratitude to Councilman  Catania.  He has served the city with distinction for years, and he has never hidden who he is.  Openly LGBT elected officials are doing tremendous things all across America, and today’s vote in D.C. is another testament to their effectiveness as leaders in the fight for true equality.”

NBC Washington reports on the results of the vote:

As expected, the D.C. Council voted 11-2 in favor of same-sex marriage in the District Tuesday afternoon. It was the second of two required votes on the bill.

Mayor Adrian Fenty has said he will sign the bill.

The historic vote is of particular importance because it puts the same-sex marriage issue in front of Congress. Same-sex marriages would begin in the city as soon as the bill passes a period of Congressional review. Congress is not expected to alter the law.

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Edison, NJ —  America’s first GLBTI-specific wedding and event planning company, savvyplanners.com,  is honored to have been included in the newest, must-have, book on do-it-yourself  Gay and Lesbian weddings.  The company is listed in the book’s included GLBT Weddings resource guide.  By all indications, savvyplanners.com is the only full service wedding and event planning firm listed in its pages.

“The NEW Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings” (ISBN-13: 9781593501211;  Alyson Books- 2009), by Tess Ayers and Paul Brown, is flying off the shelves and several photographs of our happy client couples’ events are pictured inside.

Many months ago, the company was contacted for images of weddings it had produced.  After numerous telephone calls, emails and referrals, photos and releases had been sent to the couples in agreement with being so publicly visible.

“I was so happy to be working on this with Paul Brown.  He and Ms. Ayers are the preeminent advisers for do it yourself weddings for our community”,  said senior event coordinator and gay and lesbian wedding expert, Marcinho Savant.

Added Client Care Director, Irma Rabinowitz, “We absolutely recognize that in these challenging financial times, some couples are not willing or able to hire professionals.  It is great to be listed in a book that will make their wedding planning simpler and more affordable.  We know that some people cannot afford to hire experts so it is great that couples won’t have to be without good advice and help”.

The company spokesperson added that even if people are unable to hire savvyplanners.com for their event, the company’s travel department would happily offer its expertise and booking services for gay-friendly honeymoon locations, free of charge.  Clients only pay the cost of their accommodations and travel.  The company will not charge the client to book reservations for them.

“I looked up the word essential and the definition fit Ms. Ayers and Mr.Brown’s book and savvyplanners.com well.  ‘Of the utmost importance : basic, indispensable, necessary’.   To have been included in such a vital release and listed as a GLBT Wedding resource inside it is a proud and thrilling mention!  It is an honor”, Savant said.

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About savvyplanners.com: The company was formed in late 2003 and launched in 2004 with its sole mission being to protect the integrity, dignity,  honor  and importance of gay and lesbian weddings and events from vendor biases, apathy or bigotry.  The company is preparing to enter its sixth year of constant operation.

By On Top Magazine Staff

Starting Monday, September 28 gay and lesbian couples in Scotland will be allowed to adopt children, the Herald Scotland reported.

Gay men and lesbians currently may adopt children but only individually. Under the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, gay couples will be allowed to jointly share in parental responsibilities.

The new law puts Scotland on par with England and Wales.

Gay couples in Scotland are denied the right to marry but may enter into a civil partnership, a legal union similar to Vermont’s 2000 pioneering civil union law. About 34,000 gay and lesbian couples have entered into a civil partnership in the 36 months prior to December 2008 in England, Wales and Scotland.

“What all children need and deserve most of all is a safe, secure, loving and stable home environment and same sex couples are equally able to provide this as opposite sex couples,” Carl Watt, director of the gay rights group Stonewall, told the paper.

A spokesman for the Church in Scotland criticized the law, saying most gay couples are not interested in adopting.

“Children need security and stability and civil partnerships and same sex relationships are profoundly unstable,” Peter Kearney said. “This change is unlikely to have an effect on the shortage of adoptive parents because there are very few same sex couples interested in adoption.”

Email

Subject: Thanks!

“I just wanted to say, thank-you, for making my trip to Denver so successful…

Because of your fine service, I will be using booking services once again in November. Yes, my partner is coming out to see ME this time! And I will also be using your concierge services to move things to Denver. Yes, we’re moving onto the next level. Thank you for being a great part of it!

Most Sincerely,

Richard Willett”

Attending JayZ 9-11 families benefit? We’ve still got apartments, townhouses…even mansions for rent for less than midtown hotels. ^st

This is disturbing!  The scammers are now attacking Travel Agencies?  Really?

Pathetic.  Be on your guard folks!

-savvyplanners.com™  and savvyTravel™

Dear Sir / Ma’am,

I am contacting you in regards to collaboration in respect to some of our clients who are traveling from Beijing (PEK) – Hong Kong (HKG) and to different destinations.

Kindly let me know if you can book their flight tickets for me.

Moreso, I will need to know if you accept credit card payment.If you accept credit card payment,let me know the details of credit card that you will need to issue their tickets.

I will be waiting for your reply now so that I may send their details to you for flight booking.

Regards,

Bobby.

E-mail: voyagersconsultant@g

voyagersconsultant@g

Here is the first in a continuing series of make-up and skin care tips from renowned celebrity  makeup and hair stylist, Michele Bell!

She has agreed to be our savvyplanners.com Makeup Diva, bringing the best her tips to our clients, fans and visitors!

Our Personal Makeup Diva: Michele Bell!

“For those of you that enjoy the Vitamin D, we should protect our skin from the sun!  I know this all so well, I am 43 years old and have been worshiping the sun since I was 14!   I take care of my skin on a daily basis and additionally when it comes to visiting my favorite island in the Caribbean!  St.Maarten is a place for the “uninhibited” and that means, “nude beaches” where we must protect not only our gorgeous face but some “other sensitive” areas!

Few realize the most common cancer is the United States is skin cancer, accounting for almost half of all cases. Although skin cancer can be fatal, it is easily treated if caught early.

Be on the lookout for:

• Change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or spot, or a new growth.
• Roughness, bleeding or other discharge.
• The spread of coloring beyond the mole’s or mark’s border.
• A change in sensation: itchiness, tenderness, or pain.

Who’s affected?

All of us are at risk of skin cancer, but some have a higher risk than others.   Be  extra careful if you:

• Have lots of moles, irregular moles, or large moles.
• Have freckles and burn before tanning.
• Have fair skin or blond, red, or light brown hair.
• Have a family history of skin cancer or were previously treated for it yourself.
• Live or vacation at high altitudes live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates.
• Spend a lot of time outdoors, especially if you work indoors all week and then get a tan on weekends.
• Have had an organ transplant.
• Have an autoimmune disease or take medicines that lower your immunity.
• Take birth control pills. Other prescription drugs also increase risk.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if this applies to any medications you take regularly.
Proactive prevention is the key to a happy, healthy life.

Minimize sun damage to reduce your risk:

1. Apply a palm-full of sun block of SPF 15 or higher every day.  Re-apply mid-day or after an hour if sweaty or wet. Help kids do the same, although do not apply to babies under 6 months.
2. Restrict their sun exposure, and cover them with clothing, hats and blankets instead.
3. Limit sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., even on cloudy days.
4. Cover your body and limbs with lightweight, comfortable, dry clothing.  Darker, tightly-woven fabrics block the most damaging rays.
5. Wear a wide-brimmed hat (at least 2-3″ around all sides).
6. Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays.
7. Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. Try sunless tanning products instead.

Int
Thank you everyone for visiting! Feel free to ask me any questions!”

Michele Bell

International Celebrity Hair and Makeup Artist
www.bridestobeny.com

You can post your questions right here in the comments!