With the growing popularity of online dating as a valid, fun and useful way to meet people, La Trobe University’s School of Public Health and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society are conducting a project to find out about the experiences of young adults who use online dating. In particular they’re looking to interview people between the ages of 18 and 30.

This project grew out of a smaller study conducted by one of the researchers, Danielle Couch, when she was studying and using online dating herself:

‘I’d used various online dating sites to meet people and had my own little processes for making my way through the online dating world. I’d send a wink or a kiss, maybe we’d correspond via a few emails or chat online for a while. Then if we decided to meet face to face I’d want to think about when and where that would be. I started wondering if other people followed the same kind of routine or did they do things differently. So I started developing a research idea.

The outcome of Danielle’s ponderings was a small research project as part of her post-graduate studies. She interviewed 15 people online, using chat. In the interviews the participants chatted online about their own online dating experiences, what they did and didn’t do to manage risk, how many people they’d met, how many people they’d had sex with through online dating, did they take safety precautions, were they into safe sex and how did it all compare to meeting people in other ways.

Working in public health, I knew there’d been some research in the US looking at the relationship between online dating and the spread of sexually transmitted infections  – how the internet can let you meet people quickly and how it could be an efficient way to access casual sex partners and potentially spread infection. I wondered was this relevant in Australia? Did other online daters think about this stuff? Was it any different to going out and picking someone up in a bar on the weekend?’

The interviews ranged from 30 minutes to 3 hours in duration, depending on what each person wanted to share and what else they were doing at the time.

One of the things about interviewing people online is that you have to recognise they’re probably multi-tasking. We all do it when we’re online. So I knew when I was chatting with people I was one of several things they might be doing – that’s just the reality of being online. I had one memorable interview where a participant was in four other dating related chats and also watching some sexually explicit webcam action. I remember her apologising to me at one stage as she was a bit slow in responding to one of my questions as she was getting distracted by the web-cam show.

The general consensus was the people interviewed enjoyed the process; in fact several interviewees would often update Danielle via chat on their most recent experiences as they wanted these included in the project.

The findings from this earlier study have led to the current project. Over the next few months the researchers are looking to interview between 30 and 40 people via chat about their online dating experiences. If you’d like to be part of this project and share your thoughts, experiences and opinions about online dating then just add onlinedating@latrobe.edu.au to your messenger or visit project webpage to find out more. All interviews will be confidential.

Your wedding party is a major factor in the success of your wedding day. Too many couples assume that once they’ve selected their brides maids and grooms men that they are finished. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what it means to be in a bridal party. Bridesmaids and groomsmen need to do more than just look pretty. Put these people to work! If your wedding party knows the who’s, what’s, when’s, and why’s, they will be able to handle many of the details that may derail the enjoyment of what should be your happiest day.

Many sites will tell you the traditional roles for your wedding party. I’m going to give you some tips on additional (and non-traditional) jobs for your bridesmaids and groomsmen to perform so that you can spend your time on more important details.

Babysitter: Make it the responsibility of someone in your wedding party to know where the rest of the wedding party is at all times. When time comes for someone to make a toast, the wedding party dance, the dollar dance, the garter auction, games, etc. it is frustrating for everyone to be waiting for that one person who is outside, in the bathroom, or talking to your cute cousin.

Activity Leader: Put your bravest party animal in charge of leading activities. This person needs to be someone willing to lead a bunny hop, talk on a mic, lead people to the dance floor etc.

Clean-Up Crew: Assign the task of making sure nothing gets left behind to one of your attendant’s. It will be their job to check the area of the ceremony, reception, and dance to make sure none of the wedding party left things like bags, purses, shoes, coats, wallets, keys, etc.

Nanny: Find your most child loving attendant, and give them the task of sheparding children off the dance floor during special events and dances. Children are great, but they don’t realize that the Bride and Groom’s first dance is not an appropriate time for them to be chasing bubbles on the dance floor.

Designated Driver: Don’t forget this important job! No need to let senseless tragedy ruin your perfect night.

While these are not traditional roles for your average wedding party, assigning someone to these tasks will make your day less stressful so you can spend your time making your wedding beautiful.

Marriage is serious business. After all, for most people the person we marry is someone with whom we share our home, money, and love – and even our kids! And, marriage is forever – or at least that is how most people intend it to be when they get married. Most married people spend a significant amount of their personal time in close proximity to their spouses.

In order to take a lighter view on the serious business of marriage, I have collected some of my favorite funny bits of folk wisdom and advice on the subject of how to keep your marriage healthy, healthy, and strong. So, here is some funny marriage advice to make your marriage stronger:

1. Don’t date anyone you wouldn’t marry:

This one is really more of a comment on how to conduct oneself before marriage. For most people, dating is as much a way to have fun as it is to find a life mate. After all, dating often includes going out on the town, having some good food, maybe a bit of dancing – doing things that are outside of the ordinary, hum-drum of pattern daily life. But, this piece of advice implies something important about dating: it can lead to something much more serious. If you go out on date after date with someone about whom you are not necessarily crazy (but are just doing it to have a bit of fun), the strategy could backfire on you. Things might get serious before realize it, and you could end up compromising and marry the wrong person.

2. Don’t fight about money – there is never enough to go around anyway:

As most married couples will tell you, money is one of the biggest sources of conflict within a marriage. Money – and how we handle it – is so personal and no two people view it in exactly the same way. Combine that with the fact that most married couples share their money; that is, they add to and take from the same “pot” on a regular, ongoing basis. And, for most people, there just never seems to be enough money to do all of the things we want to do. The solution? Realize that there will probably always be a bone to pick between you regarding how each of you handles money – but that is no reason to fight. Just agree to disagree on the small stuff and move on.

3. If you are a woman: do not expect your husband to change after marriage:

Women, be honest with yourselves: if you are like most women, when you married your husband you had all sorts of specific expectations about ways he would become an even better or more pleasing person post-marriage. This is just a huge fantasy, so you need to let this notion go! Of course, married men do change over time. But, such change is not always necessarily for the better, and it is very unlikely that the things a woman dislikes most about her husband are going to magically go away. The best advice for women is to not expect your man to change and to try to accept him for who he is.

4. If you are a man: do not expect your wife not to change after marriage:

Calling all men: when you married that perfect little bride of yours, you formed a mental picture in your mind of what she was (or what you imagine her to be). As time passes, you may have noticed that the gap between the person your wife is today and that mental image of how she “used to” be is getting larger and larger. Fact is, most men start reminiscing about the way things were (or they way they thought things were) with their wives before they got married, lamenting the ways she has changed since then. Here is a little piece of advice: embrace the changes she has gone through and enjoy the ride!

5. Never have breakfast together:

This last one really hits home with me. Neither my wife or I are morning people. When we get up each morning, we need to give each other as wide a berth as possible, lest we risk getting our heads removed by the grumpy monster in the room. That means staying out of each other’s way for at least the first half hour in the morning. And, of course, having breakfast together immediately after getting up in the morning is completely out of the question!

Making a marriage successful requires a lot of hard work and patience. At the same time, keeping a good sense of humor about your marriage can actually be very good medicine.

Wedding songs are the life and soul of your wedding celebrations. They set the mood of the celebrations from the beginning to the end. Choosing the best songs for your wedding day celebrations can enhance the joyous mood of the day and make it a memorable event.

The weddings of the past featured traditional wedding songs. Today, couples can choose from a wide range of music. Choosing the best songs for their wedding celebrations is the most exciting aspect of the wedding day celebrations.

Couples usually select songs that are deeply significant to them in a special way. Playing such songs on the wedding day makes it a unique and personal experience for them. For example, a couple could select a song that they heard during their first date or a few songs of their favorite singer.

Consider the following points when you select your wedding day songs:

1. Venue

Select songs that suit the venue you have chosen for your wedding day celebrations. Wedding ceremonies are usually conducted in a church, and couples must first ascertain whether the church authorities allow their favorite music to be played within the church premises. Some churches are particular about the type of songs that should played during the services.

Other venues might not have placed any constraint on the type of songs that can be played. In any case, choose sober songs for your wedding ceremony, not the type of songs that might be in sharp contrast to the solemnity of the occassion. You can play all the amusing and entertaining music you like at your reception.

2. Music Band

Select a good DJ or music band that will create great wedding music for you. If you have decided to have a traditional wedding, you might hire a classical ensemble to play at your reception. If you are having a quiet wedding at home in the company of your friends and family members, you could get a flute trio, a solo pianist, or a string quartet to play your classical wedding music.

3. Planning Wedding Songs

Couples have to select several songs for their wedding. In fact, you have to select different types of songs for six different aspects of the wedding.

Prelude music is joyous and festive and is played chiefly to welcome family members and friends to your wedding ceremony.

The wedding procession marks the beginning of the ceremony, and the songs played at this time are to welcome the gathering and to alert the guests that the bride is about to enter.

A bridal procession is the most important part of the ceremony. Many prefer the conventional bridal march. However, the practise of playing different type of music during it can make it a unique and memorable event. Besides, it is quite acceptable in the modern days.

During the interludes, you can use a variety of songs to enhance the emotional charging of the environment.

Festive wedding songs should played during the recessional because the music is to celebrate the fact that the couple are now officially united.

The music of the postlude is more grateful, full of thanks to the guests who have made it to the wedding ceremony.

Wedding party gifts are a must for any bride and/or groom that helps with the planning and execution of her or his wedding. A wedding party gift is a great, non-verbal way to thank somebody for their help in organizing and planning out your wedding. Typically, those who receive wedding party gifts include your parents, your flower girl and ring bearer, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the maid of honor and the best man, the wedding planner, and anyone else who has played a role in your special day.

Many companies and online shops offer collections of excellent wedding party gifts that are perfect for any wedding and are sure to please. Monogrammed totes and personalized watches are always a must-have for the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. For the men, consider personalized golf caddies, leather bomber jackets, messenger bags and even cuff links. If you have children participating in your wedding, then you can choose from many wedding party gifts that will be perfect for them. Play pretend kits, gift certificates, small trinkets and artistic creations are all wonderful presents for children.

As you already know, many couples choose to present presents to those who have helped them plan their wedding, as a way of showing their appreciation and thanks. Often these wedding party favors or gifts will be presented at the rehearsal dinner that often occurs the night before the wedding itself. In most instances, the type of gift chosen is used for everyone who is in the wedding party. But there’s no law saying that you can’t pick out more personalized items for individuals, and choose to give them at other moments, when the occasion is better suited.

Some tips for making the most of your wedding party gifts:

First, make a budget and plan on sticking to it. If you do choose to pick out different gifts for different individuals, make sure all of those wedding party gifts are in the same price range.

When selecting presents, make sure to keep the interests of the person you are giving a gift to in mind. The best man who has a drawer full of watches probably doesn’t need another one, no matter how nice that particular wedding gift might be.

Present presents to the men at the bachelor party, and presents to the women at the bachelorette party.

Be sure to thank each person individually and in person, in addition to giving them wedding party gifts.