Every summer there is usually a particular song that repeatedly gets requested more than others by brides for the Father/Bride formal dance.

A few years ago, ‘Butterfly Kisses’ by Bob Carlisle was ‘that song’. For 2006, indications are the song by Heartland, “I Loved Her First” could be ‘that’ song this year.

The musical style of the song is Country and you can check it out on iTunes by clicking the iTunes button right here…

According to Condé Nast Bridal Group, the average American wedding will cost $28,000. That’s the bad news. The good news is that apparently married couples accumulate wealth more quickly than single people.

According to an article in SmartMoney magazine, June 2006, an Ohio State University research scientist found that the individual net worth of married couples averages 93% higher (including homes, and other assets) than single people.

Bottom line is this; even though the costs of getting married can be substantial, the long term financial benefits of staying married more than offset the costs. US Government statistics show that the average couple accumulates $11,418 annually while singles manage to save only $3,753 on average.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discussed how the wedding industry continues to come up with additional options to entice couples. What were some of the options?

• Courtship Documentary — This is an elaborate form of a photo slideshow. Companies providing this service (Such as Milk & Honey Productions) typically will interview friends and family on film or video. The resulting product has a documentary type feel to it. Spend a little more (like about $500) and the companies will post the film as an iPod download on a password protected website. Cost? Anywhere from $7,500 to $30,000.
• Photo cookies — We are not making this up. A bakery in Los Angeles sells cookies that can be personalized with icing decorated with a scanned image of the Bride and Groom. Don’t save the cookie though, eat it instead because the photo will fade after a few weeks. These photo-cookies will set you back about $42/dozen.
• Monogrammed two-truffle chocolate box — A Chicago based company (Vosges Haut-Chocolat) offers personalized chocolate goodies for weddings. Godiva will sell you boxes that have the names and date of the wedding printed on the ribbon (from $4.25 each).
  Another option is to check out wrappedhersheys.com. You’ll find candy bars whose wrappers can be customized with the couple’s names. About $1.49 each.

We’ve been enjoying the new single by Train, Marry Me. A wonderful bride/groom first dance song. GIve it a listen and see if you don’t agree.
It’s from the Album, Save Me, San Francisco (Golden Gate Edition).

Marry Me-Train –