How long would you wait for marriage?

I was one of those girls who never wanted to get married. Growing up in a household where men came and went and so did husbands, I wanted to pursue other interests in my life other than having a ring on my finger. Not that I don't love the looks of men, I do. I'm not a man basher, just not that interested in having their presence the most important thing to me.

Lo and behold, I was married before I thought I would be. At the age of twenty one, I walked down the aisle to marry my man and eight years later, we are still going strong. Luckily for me, I met and married a man who didn't make me feel that if I wanted to stick my head in a eight hundred page novel and get lost for days at a time, he would leave. He's rather a nice, caring and thoughtful man with interests other than me at all times.

Over the weekend, we attended a wedding of a couple whom we have known for quite awhile. The ceremony was beautiful along the banks of the beautiful Rappahannock River in Virginia. Other than the north wind that decided to pick up and freeze many home to an early bed, it was perfect. As I watched the bride make her way down the aisle, a tear was brought to my eyes. It's so amazing to watch two people take vows to one another. Watching the man is also the best part of the ceremony.

I've known couples that have been together as long as I've been married that are still uncommitted in the sense of wedding rings and bridal registries. The vows of marriage do not mean much to them. Their commitment to one another is strong without these testaments. It makes me wonder how long many will go in a relationship before marriage is thought of?

How long would you wait for marriage? Is it not important to make vows in front of family and friends for your relationship?

Does Size Really Matter: The Wedding Ring

When my husband, Joe, and I got married, I was twenty-one and he was twenty-two. I was still in college working hostesses shifts when I could and he worked as a server at a restaurant in town. Broke and living paycheck to paycheck, our wedding rings were the last thing on our mind. This was an expense and at the time, we didn't need another bill.

An aunt of mine worked at a jewelry shop in the mall and helped us pick out a wedding band for me. All and all the band cost no more than a hundred dollars. My grandfather gave my then fiancee his first wedding ring, the one he wore when my grandmother and him first got married, a plain white gold band. To this day, he still wears this band.

Recently, my mother-in-law has been preparing to sell her city home so when she retires, she can retire at her beach home. Cleaning out closets and drawers that have sat untouched for years, she ran across a small diamond ring Joe's father gave her when they first were married. Donning another man's ring know, she handed it over to me and said "Keep it in the family." I am a stickler for antiques and tradition, so I gladly obliged. It fits perfectly with my band.

Former Entertainment Tonight correspondent, Vanessa Minnillo recently responded to split rumors with boyfriend, Nick Lachey. "However, this romance is still going strong. There will always be rumblings and rumors that we've broken up, but in fact, it's very much still on -- and it keeps on getting better," To prove her point, she flashed a 5 carat diamond ring she is wearing on her middle finger and went on to say, "It will be 10 carats when it moves to the fourth finger!"

In marriage does the wedding ring's size really matter? It never has to me...

Wedding Rings: Why Not Wear Them?

Last night on Larry King, Elizabeth Edwards was the guest. Promoting her book, Resilience, she sat behind the table on set giving her story behind why she would write a book discussing her cancer, marriage, and infidelity of her husband John. Towards the end of the interview, Larry King asked about her not wearing her wedding ring.

Larry King: "You told our friend Oprah that you didn't wear your wedding ring becauseyou jammed your finger..."

Elizabeth Edwards: "I really jammed it. This is actually sort of a funny story.When John was running for the Senate, he runs and when he runs he usedto run with his ring and he would sweat and he lost the first weddingring that we ever had, he ever had and he'll take it off in the shower,for the shower or something so one time he went to an event and he wasn't wearing his ring, very early.

And this ring - so I went to a place where they sell rings, I said I'dlike to see your size nine wedding rings and she said, well, we havefive of them and I said, I'll take them all.

"I really did jam my finger."

I was slightly confused in her answer because much of it made no sense. The sentences were run ons and how often she repeated things were baffling.

Okay so he lost the first ring running and sometimes he takes it off when he is in the shower? Who out there takes off their wedding ring in the shower? I know I don't. I know my husband doesn't. I'd be afraid it would wash down the drain (maybe he wanted it to wash down the drain.)

I do know there are people who do, but how do you feel without it on your finger? Do you feel any different?

Elizabeth Edwards went to a place that sells rings and bought all five of the rings in his size? That seems a little wacky to me. I guess when you live in that 28,000 square foot mansion you can afford to scoop up five wedding rings for your loved one so they choose the one to wear by the outfit they are wearing for the evening.

Do you take off your ring when you shower?

Purposely take it off before going in public?

Have you ever worn your ring to hurt your spouse? If you have so, how did it make you feel? Your spouse?

Should you ever take off your wedding ring?

Heidi and Seal Renew Vows for Fourth Time: Popular New Trend?

Over the weekend Heidi Klum and Seal renewed their vows for the fourth time. With a "white trash" theme, Heidi's hair was done in cornrows and Seal wore an American Flag themed jacket and a mullet wig. The preacher was dressed as Elvis.

"We're going to get married again," Seal tells Oprah. "So this is going to be the fourth time, our fourth anniversary. The fifth time, and I'm not quite sure what the theme is.

"You know what my wife's like," he continues. "She's always got some trick up her sleeve, but it's going to be a good get-together, you know, lots of friends." [us magazine]

When did renewing your vows every year become so popular? How many times would you renew your vows? Could this become a new trend?