Wedding Insurance News - November 2010

4th November 2010

We have all stopped in McDonalds from time to time. If you need a quick and easy meal, it’s simple to just pop in and grab a Big Mac or a McFlurry.

But how about a McWedding?

No longer happy with being one of the largest names in the fast food industry, McDonalds is now preparing to enter the wedding industry by offering bargain wedding packages at selected restaurants in Hong Kong.

Reports indicate that the idea to provide a wedding service may have started after one couple requested to hold their wedding at a specific McDonald’s restaurant where they had met for the first time. Other engaged couples soon heard about their plans, and soon the company were receiving nearly 10 calls a month enquiring about holding ceremonies in specific restaurants.

Although this initially seems like an unusual request, many McDonald’s restaurants hold a special significance to lots of couples around the globe. They may have met in the restaurant, or been on dates there, or perhaps even became engaged there, and it is on this basis that the idea of a ‘McWedding’ is becoming more and more popular with brides and grooms in Hong Kong.

As well as being an unusual place to marry, the cost is also a serious consideration for those on a strict budget. Packages are estimated to cost between HK$ 2000 - 3000 (£160 – £280).

Initial reports suggest that guests will be able to order from the standard McDonalds restaurants for the wedding breakfast, and that a cake could be provided, in either an apple pie or burger style.

Unfortunately, due to their policies, the drinks would all be alcohol free and the restaurants would not be closed to members of the public during your special ceremony.

Allegedly, bookings are already being taken for weddings planned from January 2011 onwards.

4th November 2010

Alongside weddings, a lot of planning often goes into the hen and stag parties. Often, this is where you would expect disaster to strike. Far more easily than the wedding itself, especially after a couple of drinks!

Recently though, a hen party got more than they bargained for when they set off in celebration of the bride’s last weekend of freedom.

The bride-to-be and her select party of friends flew to a well known popular tourist resort in Spain, for a weekend of fun before her big day. A few hours after they started their celebrations, though, disaster struck!

Lounging by the hotel pool and enjoying their sangria in the sunshine, a fellow holiday maker, an elderly Dutch gentleman, jumped into the pool and began having some difficulties.

At this point the hen party, some of whom were trained cardiac nurses, recognised that the gentleman was suffering a heart attack.

After rescuing the man from the water, 3 of the hens gave the gentleman mouth to mouth resuscitation and emergency CPR, and inserted an airway to help him breath. Thanks to their fast response and knowledge, the man was able to breathe again and he regained consciousness.

Several days later, the gentleman concerned was released from hospital, and quickly sought out the hen party to thank them for saving his life. If the cardiac nurses had not been there that day to provide the life saving first aid, things could have been very different indeed.

3rd November 2010

As you may be aware, the average age for women to settle down and get married is about 30 years old.

When you get to this point and you are still single, you may start to feel the pressure mounting.

One lady in Taiwan, Chen Wei-Yih, decided to take unusual action. Although she assures us she is very happy with her life, her work, and her social life, her love life unfortunately seems to be lagging behind. She has not yet met 'The One', and with social pressure mounting she has decided the best solution is to marry herself.

Chen Wei-Yih started organising her own wedding, following all the usual routes. She hired a wedding planner, booked her reception, and has begun shopping for her wedding dress. She has not, however, found a groom.

She states that she is not against marriage, and that she hopes to marry properly in the future when she finds that elusive 'One'.

The Taiwanese bride-to-be hopes that her act will inspire more single men and women to take pride in themselves and not give up hope, and not be pressured into marrying for the sake of it.

With an estimated cost of £3000 for her wedding, Chen has also started an online campaign, building up an army of fans from across the globe who share her views and support her on the build up to her big day.

Unfortunately the ceremony will be purely symbolic, as it is not legally possible to marry yourself.

Chen informs us she plans to invite around 30 guests to her wedding, and hopes to honeymoon in Australia, with herself.