However for those that never grew up with it they may not see the importance of having religion in the marriage or even in their life. Make sure you know what type of person you are marrying; if this is a key thing it will become a big issue for the wedding and after. Before getting married many may have a different view on the type of wedding ceremony you have. Next come the ring bearer and/or flower girl and finally, the bride, escorted by her mother and father. Informal weddings or those with a small wedding party may opt to choose a single file processional or none at all. A non-traditional ceremony may include a dog as the ring bearer, a cat as the flower girl and their masters (bride and groom) taking their places before them at the altar. Try Macy’s Bloomingdales, and the site IfTheGiftFits.com for some great ideas on how to share your blessings for the happy couple. Furniture items, although expensive, can offer many benefits for the couple over the long term. These can include china and crockery items, vases, and even leather furniture for the living room. Love and marriage don’t have to go together – and with the more open society we live in accepting that we are free to love who we choose and not be restricted by gender, then in some cases it isn’t even legally possible for them to do so. With homosexual marriage being a political and legal hot potato around the world, love and marriage is even possible for gay couples in some areas, whilst in others it’s still illegal and so love and marriage in the traditional sense is denied. This could well be right over a large number of generations, already today we see many children of obvious mixed race background in the school yard – but is this really such a dreadful thing? An interracial marriage is one of the most positive steps for a world that is no longer interested in picking at the differences between one culture and another, but instead, focuses not only on the similarities but also the strengths that one race can share with another. Alabama marriage laws require that persons under 16 years old may not be married, those between 16 and 18 may marry with consent of both parents or guardian(s) and a $200 bond. Residency in the state is not required. Also, a waiting period of 60 days after divorce is the only time restriction. There are no medical or blood tests required before marriage in Alabama.