Cosmopolitan.com http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za Cosmopolitan.com http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za/images/cosmo_logo_toolbox.gif Money en-us catherined at cosmopolitan dot co dot za Copyright 2009 ADVERTORIAL: Sit Back and Relax http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/advertorial-sit-back-and-relax
Looking for the perfect venue for your hot date? Parc Fermé in Sandton, Jo'burg, is a chic, upmarket and trendy dining spot, offering exquisite, exotic cuisine and the best cocktails in town. Choose a comfy chair on the veranda and sip on a Parc Julep as you watch the world go by before spoiling yourself with a delectable range of French, Mauritian and Asian cuisine. Or, choose from a selection of freshly prepared daily specials, which include traditional classics prepared with a modern twist, made with only the finest ingredients.

With its contrasting grey, black and white décor and its mixture of exotic fabrics and textiles, Parc Fermé is the perfect place to chill out after a hectic week. It's also an ideal venue for private functions and is able to offer seating for up to 150 people in its main section, 40 people on the terrace (or smoking section) and 25 on the veranda. You can also select live entertainment for your party and choose from a specialised menu for each occasion. Planning a 30th birthday or engagement party? Look no further.

If it's a comfortable and relaxing reprieve from hectic city living you're after, while enjoying quality food and a lovely ambience, Parc Fermé is your new favourite place. To view their tantalising specials, book a table or to get a preview of the menu, visit www.parcferme.co.za.

]]> Fri, 04 May 2012 12:00 +0200 COSMO Hitched http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/cosmo-hitched
For a behind-the-scenes look at how the COSMO Hitched supplement came together, have a browse through our photo galleries. Want to win amazing prizes to make your bridal experience even more magical? Enter our Hitched-inspired competitions!

We've also tried to make life just that extra little bit easier with the downloadable wedding planner below and a how-to video from Nailene, which will make sure your nails look as spectacular as you do on your special day. Get clicking!

 
 
 
 
Click below to download your personal wedding planner.
 






   
  


Let Nailene show you exactly how to make sure your nails are perfect on the day.



  

PLANNING A WEDDING?

  
]]> Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 Become a Wedding Planning Genius http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/become-a-wedding-planning-genius *ADVERTORIAL*
  Planning your wedding just got easier with the launch of the new look Yellow Pages website and the all-new Yellow Pages mobi site.

Become a wedding planning genius with Yellow Pages and COSMO.
There's so much to think about when planning your wedding. Should you hire a professional planner? Do you want the ceremony indoors or outdoors? What kind of flowers will make for a good bouquet? Is a live band better than hiring a DJ? And most importantly, where will you find the perfect dress?

Now is the time to stop and take a breath. Yellow Pages and Cosmopolitan have all the answers for getting your wedding ducks in a row. Yellow Pages has recently updated its website to make it simple to use so you can find a venue and all your vendors easily.

It's all about comparing quotes and getting the best value for money.
On the new look website, you can search via category and region to find a whole range of wedding and function suppliers. You'll be able to search for everything you need; from hairdressers, dressmakers and caterers to travel agents to book your dream honeymoon.

Over and above the new look and feel of the website, there's also a very useful map locator tool. Now you can get hold of your vendors via telephone and e-mail, visit their websites - if they have one - as well as get directions to their place of business. Finding companies to get quotes from and comparing prices has never been easier.

Another new and exciting feature from Yellow Pages is our recently launched mobi site. Now you can find the contact details for all the people you want to hire while you're on the go. And if you're on the road, you can also get directions right then and there.

All your information in one place.
Once you've found vendors, dresses, entertainment, and a venue, the simplest way to stay on top of things is to keep everything in one place. COSMO and Yellow Pages are pleased to present to you our wedding planner. This handy little booklet provides a place for you to put the contact details of all the companies and people integral to your wedding planning.

You'll also find a breakdown of where you should be in the planning process for the entire year leading up to your wedding. Don't worry, though, if you don't have a year to go, you can still use the breakdown to make sure you haven't forgotten anything important.

It's your day.
The most important thing to remember, however, is that this wedding is your day. It's a special celebration of the love between you and your husband to be. With our easy-to-use website and the handy little planner, our aim is to help you get organised well before the big day, so you can simply enjoy it.


]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 Magic Moments http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/magic-moments
Movie Trailer Proposal

Dubbed as 'The Best Marriage Proposal Ever' in cyberspace, we have to agree. This is probably the last thing you'd expect to happen while in the cinema to watch The Hangover 2.



Graffiti Proposal

If you thought Labrador puppies were adorable, watch this! The reaction on her face says it all…



Explosive Reaction

In one minute flat, this bride-to-be goes from sheer shock to utter happiness.



NYC Proposal

A love proclamation in front of a LOVE sign… either you think it's corny or very romantic.



Trevi Fountain Proposal

When in Rome, say yes! And so she did.



Food Court Fail

This guy did not score any points for proposing in a food court, then again, why would he? You've got to feel for him a little bit though. Eek.



Need to hire a videographer? Click here.
]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 Stuff The Groom Still Doesn't Know (Part Two) http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/stuff-the-groom-still-doesnt-know-part-two
A Rash Decision
'My husband made me swear that I wouldn't go to a tanning salon before our wedding. But I wanted to have a nice glow, so I bought a package of tanning appointments. I went a few times, and he didn't notice that I was getting progressively more bronzed. Then five days before the wedding, I squeezed in another trip to the salon. Unfortunately, I stayed in the tanning bed for too long and turned cherry red. So when I came home, it was obvious what I'd done. I lied and told him I'd only gone once, but he was still angry. Any normal person would never go back after that. But after a couple of days, my colour had faded, so I booked one last appointment. I ended up with a rash. Of course, I blamed it on that "first" tanning session.'
- Olivia*, 31

Two-and-a-Half Men
'My fiancé thinks I'm so sweet and innocent, but he doesn't know I have a wild past. When I was at university, I'd hook up with different guys every week - a couple of times, I'd even see two guys in the same night. And that's not all: During our first few months of dating, I was seeing my ex-boyfriend on the sly at the same time.'
- Mary*, 27

The Bridal Wars
'When it came time for me and my husband to create the guest list for our wedding, his little sister handed us the names of about 20 girls, most of whom we didn't know. I threw a fit and told my guy she had to cut some people. She, however, pulled the little sister card and got all her friends secured on the list despite my protests. My husband told me to just let it go. I still had the last laugh, though - I secretly threw away the invitations for her friends. When she began questioning why her friends never received them, I told her they must have gotten lost in the mail. My guy suspects I had something to do with it, but I'll never confess to him.'
- Irene*, 26

Naughty Vice
'I've been dating my fiancé since high school, and he knows everything about me. Well…almost everything. A few years ago, during a trip to Plett with a group of friends, I had too much to drink and ended up grinding with a random guy at a club and making out with him. My friends had to pry me away and practically carry me back to the hotel room.'
- Veronica*, 27

Till Dress Do Us Part
'Atter months of stressful wedding planning, I thought I was going to come to blows with my future mother-in-law. I didn't want my fiancé to know that I couldn't stand her, so I pretended everything was fine. Meanwhile, I devised a sneaky way to take out my aggression. She asked me to look at her choices for mother-of-the-groom dresses, some of which were more expensive and fancier than my wedding gown. She told me I could make the final decision, so I picked the ugliest one of the bunch - it was a hideous banana yellow and looked like a tacky matric dance dress.'
- Nabeelah*, 27

*Names have been changed

Need to find a beauty salon? Click here.

]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 Stuff The Groom Still Doesn't Know (Part One) http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/stuff-the-groom-still-doesnt-know-part-one

I Do... Barely
'I was so nervous on my wedding day that I almost didn't leave the hotel room. If my best friend hadn't physically dragged me out, I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. But I'm glad I did, because it is the best decision of my life!'
- Roxanne*, 20

Holy Crap
'Before I say all this, let me assure you that I love my husband and we're happily married. However, there's one secret that I will never tell him. The night of my bachelorette party, I got pretty drunk, and things got out of control. I don't remember all the details of that night, but when I woke the next morning, I was lying naked with one of the men in the wedding party. It was the priest.'
- Sam*, 28

Break a Leg
'I had a Bridezilla-style meltdown in the parking lot of the church right before the wedding rehearsal. Usually I'm laid-back, but I was exhausted from doing all the planning, I hadn't slept, I was sick of family members asking me dumb questions, and my husband-to-be seemed completely clueless that I was overwhelmed. So I started crying by myself in the car. 'He walked over, knocked on the window, and asked me what was wrong. I didn't want to seem like a whiner, so I lied and told him, "I think I sprained my ankle." I got out of the car and limped toward the church. Of course, the limp magically disappeared as soon as I walked inside, and he got so swept up in the events that he forgot all about it.'
- Tumi*, 35

Un-ex-pected Guest
'I ran into my ex the night of my bachelorette party. A mutual friend had happened to mention to him where we were celebrating, and he showed up. He pulled me aside and confessed that he still had feelings for me. I didn't harbour any feelings for him and replied that I loved my fiancé. I never told my husband what happened because he knows my ex is the one guy I loved other than him, and I didn't want him to be insecure in any way.'
- Mpho*, 26

Twisted Sister
'My husband's sister, who was a bridesmaid in our wedding, was bitter that her younger brother was getting married before she was. So she acted like a total bitch and wouldn't co-operate with anything during the planning process. I tried to be civil to her, but by the morning of my wedding, I couldn't take it anymore. She was being rude to the other bridesmaids and to me. When she refused to take photos while getting ready I lost it. We had a screaming screaming match - she told me she hated me, and I said I felt the same way. We basically didn't speak to each other for the rest of the day. 'Later, after my husband and I had said our vows, he told me his family loved me and he was so glad I loved them. I never revealed that his sister and I had gotten into a huge throw-down because I didn't want to ruin his vision of a perfect family. I still don't get along with her and avoid her when possible.
- Jane*, 31

*Names have been changed

Need a lawyer? Click here.

]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 The Move That Will Get You Engaged http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/the-move-that-will-get-you-engaged
There's a difference between great oral sex and 'Holy cow, is this really happening?' oral sex. The second one is so amazing, he'll want to lock you in for life. The trick: Start slow and soft, gradually building the anticipation. Begin by holding his penis with one hand and placing it in your mouth. Keeping your tongue still, move his member back and forth inside your mouth, even letting it brush gently against your teeth. When he starts whimpering like a little puppy, run the tip of your tongue up and down his shaft. Then take all of him into your mouth and keep alternating between licking and sucking, so he never knows what to expect.

'The element of surprise adds an excitement factor,' says clinical sexologist, Dr Gloria Brame. After a few minutes, add more pressure. In addition to your mouth, put your hands into the mix. One strategy that will make his head spin: lightly pull on the skin of his testicles, tugging in sync with your mouth movements, then try some perineum play.

'The area between the testicles and anus is supersensitive because it's packed full of nerve endings,' says Lou Puget, author of The Great Lover Playbook (Gotham). 'Touching it puts pressure on the male G-spot.' To give him a pleasurable jolt he will never forget, use the knuckle of your pointer or middle finger to gently knead his perineum.

Looking for a jeweller? Click here.

]]> Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:00 +0200 Always a Bridesmaid http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/always-a-bridesmaid   Even if she swears blind, your best friend will morph into a wedding-crazed Bridezilla.

  No matter how hideous your dress is, you must suffer in silence. Repeat after me, 'Pink ruffles? My favourite!'

  No matter how much you think you're suffering from wedding fatigue, you will start blubbing when your friend reachers her man at the altar.

  Be prepared for strangers to start running bets on whether or not you're going to get it on with the best man.

  Remember: you're lucky to be best friends with the bride. And if you want to keep it that way, when it's your turn, why not consider eloping?

Need a function co-ordinator? Click here.

]]> Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:00 +0200 Is He Ready For Marriage? http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za//Relationships/Hitched/is-he-ready-for-marriage-pg1
'When it comes to men and marriage, there's good news and there's bad news', says couples counsellor, Paula Turnbull. 'The good news is that his silence around the issue of commitment is not necessarily a bad sign. Men tend not to prioritise marriage in the same way women do. While little girls plan their frock and dream of their wedding day, men seldom think about it until it's time to do the deed. But, with a little encouragement, they usually muster up enough enthusiasm to show up in a penguin suit and fork out for the flowers.'

The bad news is if he hasn't mentioned marriage because he's not ready. There is nothing you can do to hurry him up. Men have their own 'biological clocks', and if his isn’t ticking to the beat of the bridal march, you could be in for a long wait. Remember the SATC episode where they compared a man ready for marriage to an empty taxi? When he's ready for commitment, his 'available' light goes on and the next woman he meets gets the rock. If not, he'll just keep stalling. Luckily, there are some clear signs to watch out for if he's ready to mate for life.

Acts Like a Husband As April Masini, author of Date Out Of Your League (Turnkey Press) explains, 'When a man is ready to become a husband, he starts acting like a husband. For instance, he will make plans for the future, introduce you to his friends and family, and not only call you, but want to tell you the details of his day and have a desire to hear about yours.'

Says Turnbull, 'If he's honest and open about all aspects of his life and refers to the future with you in it, he's more than likely ready to take the next step.' Other signs are his being comfortable with you reading his e-mails over his shoulder, meeting his mom for lunch and answering his phone.
Can Support a Family
Shuns The Singles Scene
Wants To Be a Daddy

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]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00 +0200