..perhaps that's why your name is Freedom, Freeedom? BTW, did you ever end up actually changing your name? I was married by a celebrant in a backyard ceremony with close friends and family.

Hey FreedonB, what an interesting question! I will tell you my experience because you asked, I do not want to push my beliefs onto anyone, I respect everyones choice and decision.

My husband and I were engaged after two weeks of dating, and married 4 months later. Right from the word go, we felt instinctivly that we were meant to be together, this feeling was so strong, we felt that we had known eachother before and now had been reunited in this life. Our lifetime path was to be together, we were planning our marriage before he had offically asked me, we knew it was right for us to commit to eachother in a way that would be binding on earth as well as the next life, the confirmation from higher powers sealed our decision.

Our beleifs in getting to know eachother spiritually more than physically whilst dating helped us look deeper into our souls, to see one anothers inner true self, we didnt have sex until we were married. Most of the Christian world believes that Marriage is till death only and then you are parted forever. We chose to be married in a temple that performs marriages for eternity, meaning we will be together with our children forever...and not only that, but continue the family unit forever, Death has no bounds on the marriage and family unit, and what a wonderful promise that is, because my husband is my life, he is my part of my soul and who Iam. We chose to be married, the physical act, because for us it is symbolic of our promise for eternity, it helps us be more dedicated and really work at what we have together. We follow the traditional male and female roles in our marriage, whilst working together as a team, we are both equal partners.

Hope this helps, and I say again I am not preaching, I dont judge anyone in their choices, I respect each individuals decision for their own path in life.

Love to you freedomb

BB
XXX

John, all the best for your wedding today.  It sounds amazing...I hope you tell us all about it in the coming weeks. 

May your future lives together bring you much love and happiness.

Congratulations!

Love,

swami xx

Oh your day sounds so exciting and FUN, I am so happy for you John, all the best, please post a pic of the beautiful bride!

Love BB
XXX

in the past I gave into society/family pressure, so I had official weddings (2 of them), done by civilian celebrants, no church.

None of the 2 wedding has good memories, as they were missuesed by various family members for their personal agendas and forcing their wishes...

In future I probably will not do any official ceremonies...

I have a question - why there is a need for any type of ceremony at all, why there needs to be something official,
why teh need for papers, stamps and signatures ?

would like to read people views on this.

so far when I am questioning this, the answers are of type - well thats how it is and always been, and society and family expects that...not good enought reason for me...

yeah, but thats how every day of the life should be

we met in a bike shop last year. around april it was. love at first sight...all my mates were like 'wow! you scored dude!, can i have a ride?!'. i had to work hard to get her. constant visits to the bike shop..pretending i wasnt interested when actually i really, really was..you know how it is, after a few visits one of the sales people says 'so how about it? you interested? we can hook it up for you? come on you know you want it..'

id go back for a few weeks..go to different bike shops and see what was hanging around there. saw a few nice lightweight fast looking models but none like her. they really know how to make a fine piece in taiwan. i used to be into euro and american models but thesedays..the asians are tak'n the cake. they create so many..any flaws are quickly eliminated in the next generation. so you can be rest assured your in for a long relationship.

i went to thailand and then america and so we had some time apart. i came back and we went for a ride..but something just didnt feel right..had i changed? had she? we decided to seek some professional help and booked in to definitely the most famous clinic in the world. its in sydney. called pedal pushers. they help more people overcome these sort of issues than anywhere...

they told me that i was at fault..that she was fine and the problems were with me. i wasnt flexible enough..i had to relax more. too tense in the shoulders i was. then steve the guru pulled me aside and said 'we set her up right..she is ready to roll. you just gotta harden up and ride her more.' that was all the advice i needed.

so we planned a trip from byron to adelaide. just me and her. no distractions. riding for 7 hours a day..for 14 days. we saw had lots of time to get to really know each other. nothing like the outback for some real intimacy. we would get up with the sun and ride all day and often into the night..after a week i really started to enjoy riding her.

when we got back to adelaide people said we looked like we had grown together. you could tell she was mine and i was hers. maybe it was the 'go vegan' sticker i put on her. whatever the reason..they knew we were a hot item. we have been in a few magazines even. she always attracts attention. especially with school boys. they are like 'wow! ive never seen one that sophisticated!'

i really get pumped up talking about her. im proud of her heritage and where she has taken me. the places we have been and the trials we have conquered..
but i get a bit irritated when people ask me 'how do you know its a 'she'?'

cant they tell? cant they see the beauty? the smooth lines..the curves..the hardness when it counts..the softness when required..the sexy carbon glimmering in the sun..the long travel forks to deal with whatever the trail may throw at us..the aggressive geometry that puts us both in an optimum center of gravity..

this aint no rough bloke my bike...my bike has all the virtues of a good woman.
one of my mates said that the reason i aint found a woman is cos im too busy riding 'her' all the time. 'no chick wants to compete with a bike' said another..

maybe they are right..but we got paperwork to signify our commitment. a reciept from the bike shop. with witnesses. sure we did it for tax purposes..but who cares as long as your happy...