The Virtual Woman: A Woman's
Weekly Guide To Cyberspace
Jimmy, an FOTVW (Friend Of The Virtual Woman) wrote to tell me that his best
friend set up a camera at the altar of her wedding so that live pictures
could be broadcast on the web for all to see. How intimate, I think. Just
her, the groom, a few family members and 80 million surfers. Perfect! Not
too long ago we had a live birth, now we've got weddings. Not much sacred
out here, eh? So do you, dear readers, take The Virtual Woman as your
enthusiastic, knowledgeable tourguide on the World Wide Web? Do you
promise to read her columns, clip them out and put them into your treasured
Virtual Woman scrapbook? Do you promise to honor and to - er, I think it
would be a good idea for me to stop right about now. And get going on the
wedding questions I've received. Keep those emails coming - I love responding
to them -- I do, I do, I do!
Dear Virtual Woman:
Much to my mother's
*great* relief, my live-in boyfriend of some years and I are getting
married. We are busy, working people, and we'd be perfectly happy just go
to City Hall and be done with it. Unfortunately our families will never let
us hear the end of if we don't have a big celebration. I barely have time
to pick up our dry-cleaning, let alone to pull off a wedding for 200!!! I
am hoping that the Internet can help take the heat off somehow, but I have
no clue where or how to start. Please help, and just sign me...
- Fried Bride-to-Be
Dear Fried:
Whether you give in to family pressure and orchestrate a wedding production worthy of Broadway, or opt to keep your celebration simple, a site called The Knot will help you and your plan and manage everything in your wedding; from your budget, to the vows, reception, honeymoon, and life happily ever after. You can even announce your wedding with a 3 page personal wedding website! Wondering how to handle your mother and the rest of those relatives? Live chat sessions, message boards, and an Etiquette Q & A will help. Find The Knot at http://www.theknot.com. And, in case you find your sense of humor faltering during all this planning and worrying, be sure to visit http://www.abridesbestfriend.com, and check out their monthly "Fun Site". A Bride's Best Friend brings more than chuckles; though: This is another first-rate wedding resource on the Web.
Dear Virtual Woman:
Here's one for you:
My fiancee and I are planning our wedding, and we'd like to acknowledge both
her Chinese heritage and my African ancestry in our celebration. Any ideas?
- Suzanne K., San Francisco, CA
Dear Suzanne:
The Virtual Woman wishes you "Double Happiness!" A visit to The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project at http://www.chcp.org, will explain the origin of that phrase, and introduce you to various Chinese wedding customs from antiquity. (From the CHCP homepage, just click on "Chinese Wedding Traditions"). For ideas about incorporating African elements into your celebration, the African Wedding Guide, at http://www.melanet.com is a good place to start. Be sure to read about the tradition of "Jumping the Broom" -- a custom dating back to the days of slavery which more and more couples today perform during their ceremony.
Dear Virtual Woman:
I've been made my brother's "Best Man". I know this is supposed to an honor, but I also know that I am supposed to make a big speech, which is not exactly my idea of a good time if you get my drift. Actions may speak louder than words, but I have to say *something* when I toast the newlyweds. They are getting married on Valentine's Day.
- Tongue-Tied,Lubbock, TX
Dear Tied in Texas:
The Wedding Circle Guide to Speeches and Toasts will give you the start you need to when you raise your glass to this this happy occasion. Just go to http://www.weddingcircle.com/fyi/speech/speech.htm. Although The Virtual Woman feels certain that you will be able to come up with a heartfelt toast by the Big Day, she has a contingency plan in mind, in case you need it. You are just a few clicks away from having a speech or toast custom made (or computer-generated) for you. Where do you find this peace of mind? Just go to http://www.speeches.com
Happy Surfing!
Find these links and more at WWWomen.Com (http://www.wwwomen.com) the web's largest search directory of topics for women online. Email the Virtual Woman with your Internet questions or send snailmail to: WWWomen.Com, Attn: Virtual Woman, 3701 Geary Blvd., #325, S.F., CA 94118. Copyright, 1998. WWWomen, Inc. All rights reserved.
This column can only be re-distributed with written
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Contributing Editor: Nina Zhito
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