Romantic Marriage Proposal Ideas for Florida (Part 1)

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Elizabeth Hekimian-Williams, LMHC

romanticproposal

Ready to pop the question to the love of your life? That’s terrific! Here are some ideas in and around the state of Florida to help you in your quest to deliver a fabulous marriage proposal that will end with the coveted “yes” you seek and start you on your journey towards a lifetime of love.

Unique Proposal Ideas:

While on a romantic stroll next to the river in Hillsborough State Park, in Thonotosassa, FL. Or, if you’re more adventurous, pop the question while paddling your canoe in the river with glimpses of alligators who will bear witness to your profession of love. – Hillsborough County

During a romantic gondola ride on the waterways of Ft. Lauderdale, FL near Las Olas. You can also arrange to include a message in a bottle for the experience.- Broward County

At Discovery Cove in Orlando, and order the upgrade that includes a dolphin delivering a special message buoy such as one that says, “Be Mine.” – Orange County

During the day or evening at Busch Gardens in Tampa, while enjoying a scenic Skyride that slowly travels over the park, animals and scenery below. – Hillsborough County

By the Gulf of Mexico on the beach at sunset. Try Treasure Island Beach or Clearwater Beach for the momentous occasion. These are wider sand beaches where you’ll be able to more easily find an uncrowded spot for your little shindig and there are also restaurants within easy walking distance where you can continue the celebration of your engagement afterwards. – Pinellas County

During a kayak paddle in the scenic waters off Fort Desoto Park in Tierra Verde, FL – Pinellas County. You’ll enjoy seeing mangroves and probably jumping fish, manatees or seabirds along the way.

In Mable’s Rose Garden which features many varieties of roses, or on the waterfront courtyard/plaza of the beautiful Ringling’s mansion, Ca’D’Zan, at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL – Sarasota County

While strolling the short but impressive Anhinga trail in the Everglades- Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL. The Homestead entrance will get you to the Anhinga trail. This is for the adventurous couple who will be thrilled to be up close to wild alligators and other wildlife in their natural habitats! It will probably be a better experience if you go during the fall or spring seasons (less rain and mosquitos). -Miami-Dade County

Then, once you’re engaged, give each other another unique gift. A gift for your future with long-lasting effects. Take our premarital preparation course at http://FLPremaritalCourse.com to learn more about each other, gain marriage-enhancing skills, and get a great start towards your happily-ever-after.

5 Marriage Myths Debunked

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Kayla Hekimian Williams

Love is such a simple, beautiful thing. However, converting it into marriage and keeping it alive isn’t always that easy. There are many marriage myths that exist that, by paying attention to them, can be truly detrimental to your relationship. Check out how we have debunked five of the most popular marriage myths. Rather than allowing yourselves to fall victim to these myths, use the knowledge they provide to improve your relationship.

#1 Arguing and disagreements can destroy a relationship.

Disagreements, although unpleasant, provide couples with the opportunity to strengthen their relationship.

Nobody is perfect. Understanding this, it should be apparent that there will always be some disagreements as you each try to get your ideas and perspectives across to your partner. Although most people don’t wish to be in these situations, times of conflict give you and your partner the chance to improve communication and strengthen your bond. However, arguing and disagreements can destroy a relationship if the couple fails to keep communication strong. Couples should be aware that every relationship has disagreements and that in order to reach marital success, the couple must rise above the problem together (See: Don’t Let It Rain on Your Relationship Parade).

#2 You will both grow closer with time, automatically.

Unlike what some songs would have you believe, love isn’t always easy. In fact, it takes time, effort and commitment. One of the most common reasons for divorce is “falling out of love” or drifting apart. In order to get into a specific career, you had to train and get educated so that you could succeed. Similarly, if you want to have a long-lasting and happy relationship, you need to consistently spend quality time together, and work through any rough patches that you might encounter.

#3 You must do everything together to make your marriage work.

Although spending quality time together is important, each individual in a relationship is unique and has their own goals, dreams and desires. While marriage signifies that both individuals choose to integrate into the other’s life, it should not feel like either individual cannot do things that they enjoy. Remember that every marriage is different. Some couples may prefer more alone time, while others may enjoy more time spent together.

#4 Married people have less satisfying sex lives.

After marriage, couples feel closer both emotionally and physically. According to a large-scale national study, married couples experienced more satisfaction in this regard than their single counterparts.

#5 Good luck and romantic love are the keys to success for long-lasting marital success.

Although good luck can keep tension down and romantic love provides the spark for the relationship, long-lasting marital success is attributed to many things including strong communication, dedicated time together, remaining faithful, and being a friend for your partner. There are many other factors that play an important role in establishing a joyful marriage, and every relationship may have their own specific key for success.

Did you like what you read? Get more valuable insight for a stronger relationship at FLPremaritalCourse.com.

Don’t Let it Rain on Your Relationship Parade

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Elizabeth Hekimian-Williams, LMHC

Couple sharing umbrella on a rainy evening

Did you know that afternoon rain showers are very common in Florida during the summer months? While watching it rain recently, I was reminded about how relationships also experience rain storms from time to time. In nature, the rain showers often seem unexpected and are unwanted by many since they “ruin” our plans for outdoor fun. The dreary weather also seems to dampen your spirits. In relationships, rain storms can similarly come on suddenly, and can ruin your day with your loved one. You may even worry your relationship is at-risk long-term. However, you can learn to ride out these rain showers in your relationship, just like you can ride out a rain storm in nature. It takes some planning and a change in perspective.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Keep checking the weather. In your relationship, this can mean to accept that there will be rain showers sometimes. These will be problems you face in life or changes in your partner that threaten the stability of your relationship. Keep checking in with each other regularly. Notice each other’s emotions, behaviors and routines, and then discuss sudden or lingering changes that have been noticed with each other. This helps you to continue to know each other well and have intimate discussions about things that are beginning to frustrate, sadden or aggravate you or your partner. This also improves support for each other and helps you plan changes that will resolve any concerns.

2. Remember to have an umbrella or rain poncho with you. In your relationship, this can mean to have several ideas ready to put into action to help you survive a rain storm with your partner. These can include certain specific words or actions you can take to lift your partner’s spirits, give them space, or to quickly re-establish a stronger feeling of connection with them (i.e., putting on a favorite song from when you were falling in love). In addition, be equipped with ideas that will inspire you to be more patient, to feel more protected until the storm passes, and to have a greater disposition for forgiveness during the trying times.

3. Make changes or back-up plans for indoor fun when it rains. In your relationship, this can mean to use a problem-solving mindset to discuss the problem with your partner. This also involves coming up with possible alternatives and solutions to address the issues you each consider the current rain storm. With compassion, discuss your wishes and wants, the things you miss, and ways you each are willing to contribute and make changes to have a renewed relationship with better times again.

4. Put your patience on. Remind yourself that this is only a temporary rain storm and good weather will reappear. In your relationship, this can mean to continue to change your thinking to more positive things that will help you to calm yourself, to have hope, and to feel stronger. Replace the negative thoughts with more hopeful ones like these: ‘Tomorrow is another day,’ ‘I’m thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain,’ ‘look for the rainbow after the rain’, ‘love is patient, love is kind.’ And remember these words from a famous Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”

5. Remember that a lot of good also comes from rain storms. In your relationship, this can mean to change your perspective from an emphasis on the negatives to a focus on the positives that can occur when you survive your relationship storm. In nature, the rain not only helps to keep Florida lush with beautiful greenery and flowers, but also reduces watering restrictions and provides essential water for the survival of animals and humans. In relationships, a rain storm can result in benefits as well. Refocus your thoughts to the positives by reminding yourself that you and your partner can become more experienced by going through difficult situations together, and can become more connected, patient, and loving with each other when you successfully overcome a storm in your relationship with grace and respect. Remember these lyrics from the song ‘The Rose’- “Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows, lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring, becomes the rose.”

So don’t let it rain on your relationship parade! Stay hopeful and refocus. Take measures to survive any rain storms that arise so you can look forward to better days ahead in a vibrant and more resilient relationship.

FLPremaritalCourse.com offers a premarital preparation course with more suggestions for a stronger relationship at http://FLPremaritalCourse.com and envisions love as one that will last a lifetime.

Unique Engagement Gifts That Encourage a Healthy Marriage

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Kayla Hekimian Williams

Engagement parties are one of the highlights for the newly engaged couple. Finding truly meaningful and unique engagement gifts to celebrate can be a struggle. Here are some gift suggestions that can help promote a strong marriage.

Various themed books. This includes funny or sweet couple activity books, marriage themed cookbooks and more. This type of gift provides the couple with something that they can do together for fun to create new memories, and reminds them of joyful past experiences that they have had together.
A pre-paid outing. While this doesn’t have to be an expensive gift, it should allow the couple to get out of the house and enjoy an activity together. Examples of this could include a trip to a museum, theme park admission, movie tickets, or something else entirely. Since couples tend to jump straight into wedding planning as soon as they get engaged, this gives them the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy their newfound status by going on a fun, romantic date.
Do something artsy with some photos of the couple. Did you know? Young adults with big grins in their photos are less likely to get divorced in the future. Find a few photos of the happy couple and encourage them to remember that fact! It’s certainly something to smile about.
Give them something to look forward to. If the couple has a favorite hobby, they might enjoy being part of a monthly membership club for wine, chocolates, fruit, magazines, or something else entirely. Between jobs and wedding planning, their lives might feel hectic, but these gifts will provide much needed stress release and valuable alone time to enjoy one another’s company.
Give them a discount on their marriage license. With all of the things that go into a wedding, the most important is the purchase of a marriage license. Without it, a wedding can’t happen. By purchasing access to an online premarital course, the couple can get a discount off their marriage license of $32.50 and bypass the 3-day waiting period. Plus, they will learn a lot of valuable information to help them achieve a great marriage. However, it is important to be sure that they plan to get married within a year of taking the premarital course.

Advice for Newly Engaged Couples

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Kayla Hekimian Williams

Newly engaged? Learn how to fill your time with bliss and reduce wedding stress!

Newly engaged couples have a lot of exciting things to look forward to. After all, once you get engaged, the next step is marriage. Right?

Wrong! For some couples, getting engaged is a simple, blissful event. Couples that have been together for a long period of time may already consider themselves in a state of pre-engagement, that simply becomes official after the presentation of the ring. For others, regardless of their time spent in the relationship, newly engaged couples may feel excited and overwhelmed with everything that they believe comes with the ring. Here is some advice that can help prevent you from getting overwhelmed and maintain the joy of your new status.

Don’t rush into the wedding planning. Often, a groom-to-be has striven to plan a perfect proposal. They might have spent months looking for the perfect ring, or selecting a location. Take some time to enjoy their endeavor, celebrate each other, and give him a break from planning another major life event. It may be exciting to jump into the wedding planning stages, but enjoying your engagement should be at the top of your list of to-do’s for at least a few weeks.

Continue going on dates. Romance and dates don’t end on the day you get your ring, or after you get married. Don’t allow yourself or your soon-to-be spouse to get used to a dateless life together. Instead, take turns planning special night for each other. Make an effort to establish a consistent date night that you can both count on. This will give you the opportunity to have quality time together away from jobs and other responsibilities. Getting into this routine will set a precedent throughout marriage and will keep your marriage joyful.

Reduce your social media influence. The use of social media has skyrocketed, and is now a major way to document life events. However, it is recommended to reduce your social media posts during the wedding planning process. By doing this, you can prevent self-invited guests (which can cause a lot of unwanted wedding drama) and unsolicited advice.

Plan the wedding together. Some couples believe that the bride and the mothers should be the only one tasked with the wedding planning. However, wedding planning is one of the most stressful things that will be done in your relationship! In fact, the stress of planning can cause problems between couples if there is not cooperation. Remember that the day is for both of you, and the most important people that should be making the decisions are the bride and groom. Encourage others to get involved, but remember that the final decisions need to be made jointly by the couple.

Take a premarital course. Committing yourself to marriage is the most significant action you can take as a couple. Before you tie the knot, it’s important to understand your partner completely. Make sure you are both aware of what your partner hopes to gain from marriage, their religious views, and how you anticipate spending your future together. Plus, doing this will give you a break from the intense wedding planning process and offer you both the chance to relax and talk openly with each other.