A VICTORIAN country town has been divided over a lesbian “wedding” carried out in a public square dedicated to fallen Diggers.

Gay couple Angie and Deborah Cooper issued a public invitation to the people of Colac to attend the ceremony last Saturday.

But the local RSL branch is angry over the use of the town’s memorial square and was concerned the union did not take place too close to the shrine of remembrance.

A local jeweller refused to serve the pair when they went looking for wedding rings and letters to the local newspaper described the union as “against God”.

Police and security guards attended the ceremony fearing it might be disrupted. It attracted only a few boos and heckles.

More than 50 people at the square cheered and clapped as the two made their vows to be each other’s life partner and to love and respect one another.

Angie Cooper said she and her partner decided to make the event public to show “it was OK to be different”.

“I think Colac needs this,” Angie said.

“A lot of the time people do not try to understand different lifestyles.”

Angie, who changed her maiden name from Parry, met Deborah, originally from Britain, on the internet about seven years ago.

They became engaged in 2005.

But a friend of Angie’s late mother said the woman would be “turning in her grave”.

She said: “It’s not our kind of life. Some of us are not happy. This is terribly flagrant public display.

“It’s disgusting. Her mother died recently and she was a dear friend of mine.”

Colac RSL president Reg O’Reilly said he had received requests from members to stop the nuptials going ahead in the square.

“Part of the square is public property and anyone is entitled to use it, but if they’d gone near the shrine I’d have had something to say about that,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“We’re living in a world different to the one I grew up in.”

Local Catholic priest Father Eugene McKinnon said many in the town were angry about the publicity given the ceremony.

“These things can have a big impact in small country towns,” he said.

“A lot of people are angry at the coverage given in the local paper.

“People in country towns are sometimes less accepting of anything that’s different.”

And he said that many times the number of people who attended the wedding had watched local football matches on the same afternoon.

Flowers, entertainment, photos, food, dresses, rings, honeymoons. The list of wedding must-haves goes on and on. With everything costing more these days, including gas to travel, couples planning a grand event can expect grand expenses.

With that in mind, Phyllis James, owner of The Mitchell House and Gardens, has decided to offer one lucky couple a golden opportunity.

In December, the Lexington venue will host, free of charge, a wedding for 75 guests, including a catered reception, entertainment, a wedding cake, photography and much more.

The names of the lucky winners of the giveaway wedding will be drawn Thursday. To enter to win, couples must first tour The Mitchell House. Entries will be accepted until noon Wednesday.

During tough economic times, couples tying the knot increasingly tie themselves to debt.

The average wedding cost in 2008 is running about $28,704, according to weddingreport.com, an online wedding statistic database. That’s nearly a down payment on a $150,000 home. But who can put a price on love?

Still, weddings are expensive.

“Because of difficult economic times, we had a couple of brides who delayed their weddings,” James said.

The venue hosts an average of 150 nuptials a year, according to James, and has experienced a “slight” downturn in its business.

“People are going to get married, but people are looking at reducing other costs like flowers and invitations,” James said.

For more information or to arrange a tour, call (803) 359-5325.

Okay ladies. Your man needs a bachelor party. It’s a rite of passage for him, as much as finding “the dress” is a rite of passage for you. Let him go out on the town with his guys. His friends give him something you never can…guy love. Okay so there are no kisses when they see each other, and unless your man and his guy friends are on a sports team matching out fits are most likely out. But male bonding is nothing to scoff at. So let him have an evening out!

Okay Ladies for generations we’ve had Bridal Showers. Lots of fun for us, but not so much fun for our boy toys. The recent trend of Man Showers is working to change all that. A man shower gives your groom a chance to get all the man toys he’s been wanting. Odds are your groom has asked if you can register at one of the following places:

• Best Buy
• Lowe’s
• Circuit City
• Home Depot
• Bass Pro Shop
• Radio Shack

While many guy oriented stores do not yet offer the fully featured wedding registry services of a department store, when it comes to tools and electronics most men know what their “doomed” friend would enjoy. So encourage the Best Man or your future Father in Law to throw a Groom Shower. If the Super Bowl is any indication, when men put their mind to throwing a party they can out do us ladies easily.

Congrats to all the Carolina Girls who have gotten engaged this year! Ohmigod you guys! BTW, “Legally Blonde” will be playing at the Peace Center in Greenville, SC next March! If you are getting married next spring, consider having your Girls Night Out at the Peace Center. Lots of fun that won’t get you in trouble with your groom!

Okay bad things happen. Right in the middle of your wedding planning a relative or loved one may get deathly ill or die. Each situation is of course different, but don’t do anything you’ll regret. Don’t skip your grandmother’s wake for a bachelor party or a gown fitting. Those things can be rescheduled. Don’t miss you last chance to talk with your mother, because you had to chose a cake flavor. Vendors will understand, and most will work to reschedule appointment, if you call before the appointment. If a family members funeral falls close to your wedding, you are not obligated to reschedule your wedding, but be gracious and understanding for those wedding guest or members of the wedding party that don’t feel up to coming to your wedding. If your made of honors bother gets in a car accident on the way into town, suck it up when she skips your Rehearsal to visit the ER. Remember ladies, your wedding may be the most important thing to you, but honestly, it’s not the most important thing to everyone else. (Outside the moms of course.)

When: Right now until…today – 3pm
Where: 385 North Church St. Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Spartanburg, SC. Downstairs, where they used to have the International Festival. It’s a good idea to park across the street, by the new Krispy Kreme.
Description: Tickets are $8.00 at the door. (Festival De Novias Y Quinceaneras)



Heads up Spartanburg brides , you wouldn’t want to miss this chance to check out all the venues in the GSP area. BTW…wear good shoes.

The average age for a bride in South Carolina is 27. And the average age for a Groom is 29.


But this wasn’t always the case. Roman woman married between 12 and 14. Most Roman grooms where two or three times their brides age. Before you get all up in arms about how young Roman brides where consider this, women can legally marry in the state of South Carolina at 14 and men at 16. Legally, a lest, nothing much has changed since Ancient Rome.


Perhaps that is not all that has carried over. What is an engagement ring, but a evolution of the dowry? You can romanticize the engagement ring all you want, but a groom spends an average of 2 months of his salary to “buy” the right to marry his bride. Think about it. Most self respecting women would not accept an engagement ring from the 25 cent machine. A groom has to spend lots of time and money choosing a ring that is “worthy” of his bride to be. I’m not trying to take the romance out of weddings. It’s just a few thoughts that popped into my head.


By the way. May Cupid’s arrow find your loves heart, and Venus bless you marriage with years of love.

Ladies don’t forget to check out the wedding shows that are this weekend. If you are in Greenville, SC the Wedding Festival is on Saturday at the Hyatt Downtown. For more information you can check out Tickets are $8.00 at the door. Low country brides can check out A Wonderful Wedding, at the Charleston Gaillard Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Charleston on Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the door. Be sure to check out our Wedding Event’s page for the most up to date list of Wedding events in your area.

You fans of Dirty Dancing will really love this first couples first dance.