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Spiral Stakes 2015 at Turfway Park a Fun Day for All: The 2015 Spiral Stakes, a Grade III race offering a $550,000 purse, will be held at Turfway Park on Saturday, March 21 in Florence, Kentucky. In addition to the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes, Turfway Park also features the Grade III Bourbonette Oaks for three-year-old fillies on the Kentucky Oaks Trail.

What to do at the 2015 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park…

Turfway Park gates will open at 11:15 in the morning, and the first post time will be at 1:10 p.m. The Spiral Stakes is a part of the road to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, and, as such, Turfway Park will be hosting a party in honor of the Spiral with reservations starting at $25 for non-smoking dining areas. Otherwise, guests can opt for $10 General Admission. For tickets, guests can call (800)-773-0200.

In celebration of the Spiral Stakes, Turfway Park will also be offering a VIP Experience. Perks include a Thoroughbred racing experience, The Horseshoe Casino, a luxurious VIP tent, a grand buffet, premium open bar, luxury shopping, live entertainment, prizes, a racing program, a commemorative glass, and access to a private trackside viewing area. All seats are non-smoking, and VIP tickets cost $175 per person or $1750 for a table.

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The Hilton Hotel is also offering a special room rate for Turfway Park patrons.

Who to bet on in the 2015 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park…

Post positions, odds and picks for the 2015 Spiral Stakes and Bourbonette Oaks will be updated upon release. Early entries for the 2015 Spiral Stakes include Another Lemon Drop, Metaboss, Conquest Typhoon, Magic of Believing, Task Force and Wireless Future.

What to wear to the 2015 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park…

Since it is springtime, it is the perfect time to debut one of Spring 2015’s hottest trends, the one-shoulder look. One-shoulder pieces were debuted all over spring runways to show a little skin without being too risqué. Try a gorgeous one-shoulder maxi dress with sparkle detail at the shoulder, and pair it with some great flat sandals to keep it from looking too fancy for the daytime. For an elegant fit and flare look, try a sparkle one shoulder dress.

If you are not quite ready to bare your shoulder or you feel that you need more support than a one-shoulder look can offer, then a fake-out one-shoulder dress. The nude underlay beneath the blue lace gives the illusion of a one shoulder look, but it actually has two shoulders and offers full support.

Pair your one-shoulder look with a wide-brimmed hat by Fashion at the Races to balance out your look.

You will be ready to enjoy a great day of Spiral Stakes racing and a fun spring celebration at Turfway Park in your fashionable one-shoulder look.

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Now that the autumn fashion shows are done and dusted, we can get back to the task at hand; namely, filling our wardrobes with fresh new season fashion.

And what an enjoyable assignment that is, since the SS15 catwalks delivered a strong crop of chic looks for inspiration.

From cool, retro-tinged suede and denim daywear, to bold stripes and pretty Oriental prints, spring brings a mix of bold instant-update buys, alongside more minimalist pieces that will last a lifetime.

Shopping lists at the ready, it's time for your seasonal trends synopsis...

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THE VINTAGE VIBE: SEVENTIES

Following autumn's mod mood, the catwalk consensus has inched just one decade on, meaning spring is all about the Seventies.

Saint Laurent and Tom Ford sent out a parade of Studio 54 disco divas, complete with lurex turbans, A-line minis and daringly low-cut tops, while over at Tommy Hilfiger and Emilio Pucci, it was all about billowing Bohemian frocks.

That's not to say daywear is excluded from this retro run down, however. A snug cropped jacket and (what else?) indigo flares should be top of your shopping list, too.

THE REVAMPED TEXTILE: DENIM

The workaday fabric makes a high-end comeback for spring.

Denim was championed at Burberry, where classic jean jackets were shrunken and embellished with bright collars or feathers; it was patchworked at Tommy Hilfiger and even made an unlikely appearance at Dolce & Gabbana, encrusted with sparkling applique detailing.

Now, high street retailers are going double duty on denim, so it's high time you stocked up on essentials, like the perfect acid-wash denim shirt and a pair of jeans (or five).

THE PRINT: STRIKING STRIPES

Chanel's Breton cardigan, shorts and boots combo may not be very practical (or affordable), nor Louis Vuitton's leather bellboy dress, but they sure looked good on the catwalk.

DKNY's candy cane print dresses and Preen's pretty deckchair stripes, on the other hand, were highly appealing.

Follow suit in bright, bold colours, like red and white, and don't be afraid to mix and match different patterns on the same outfit - but keep the stripes irregular to avoid Where's Wally comparisons.

KEY PIECE: A stripy skirt and blouse coordinate set, like this black and white Textured Skirt, £28, and matching Sweater, £34 (www.next.co.uk)

THE LUXE FABRIC: SUEDE

It may be a by-product of the Seventies revolution that swept the catwalks, but suede got a lot more mileage than leather this season.

Gucci and Chanel were at the forefront, delivering cool coats in tawny hues, while skirts and slouchy shirts also got a look in at Chloe and Ralph Lauren.

A belted suede coat is a great investment buy that will see you through the last few chilly weeks of spring, and have longevity through seasons to come (if you treat it with care).

For more trend-led pieces, like fringed bags or platforms, there are some excellent imitation suede fabrics around at some very attractive price points.

THE CONTINENTAL TREND: ORIENT EXPRESS

Designers took two routes to the Orient for SS15: Japanese obi belts and shapes inspired by traditional Chinese cheongsam dress, were seen at Maison Martin Margiela and Marni, while cherry blossom blooms and china plate prints were prevalent elsewhere (including Lanvin and Gucci).

The high street has embraced this trend big time, with sleek judo jackets and silk kimonos ideal for both work and play.

Intricate prints can be tricky, so stick to one key piece, like a tunic dress or palazzo pants, and work around it.

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Certain trends are as cyclical as the seasons, like florals for spring, whites for summer, and buying a one-way ticket to the south of France when winter hits. But others, like the idea of modernized gingham, still have the power to make fashion feel new again. Brooke Jaffe, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Director for Women’s Ready-to-Wear, works in the department store’s New York office, which sets the trends for Bloomingdale’s stores all over the country. Here, she tells Chicagoans what six trends she’s spotted coming down the pipelines this spring.

1970s Nostalgia

“The spring 2015 season is heavily influenced by the ’70s. The mood is happy and conveys a feeling of nostalgia for the fashionable decade.” We agree with this one. See our recent Style Revival story, featuring 14 awesomely retro looks for this spring.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BLOOMINGDALE’S

Wide-Leg Denim

“This newfound spirit brings some of our old favorites back to fashion, including bohemian blouses and wide leg denim. I’m especially excited about Bloomingdale’s take on the wide leg denim trend with our 100% Bloomingdale’s collections that feature pieces exclusive to us designed by some of our favorite designers. We have an amazing range of blue hues from brands like AG, J Brand, and Paige—we even have a pair of white flares from Hudson. I think Chicago is the perfect city for denim because of the idea of wear now, wear later.”

The Equipment for 100% Bloomingdale’s Linear Patchwork Michaela Shirt Dress, $268. PHOTO: lace back wedding dress

Practical Shirt-Dresses

“The Chicago market tends to be fairly conservative, so we love to offer practical pieces that work year-round, like shirt-dresses, which keep you covered but are still fun and trendy—this is my must-have dress for the season! My favorite version is a 100% Bloomingdale’s exclusive from Equipment in a patchwork print.”

New Blouse Silhouettes

“Tops and blouses are given a fresh look this season with new silhouettes from the deep V, to halter necks, to off the shoulder looks. Similar to New Yorkers, Chicagoans are always on-the-go and really appreciate multipurpose pieces, so we expect the shirting trend to be popular in Chicago—it’s easy to untuck your shirt or cuff your sleeves, and it completely changes the look. These silhouettes also add a sexy touch when paired with the fluid, easy layers seen in pants and skirts this season. Layers are especially great in a place like Chicago, where the weather can change so drastically throughout the day.”

The Splendid for 100% Bloomingdale’s Gingham Shirt Dress, $158. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BLOOMINGDALE’S

Graphic Gingham

“Prints have a powerful presence in spring. One of my favorites is modern gingham, which has a bold and graphic feel that gives dresses and shirting a fresh look.”

The Clover Canyon for 100% Bloomingdale’s Botanical Print Dress with Cutout, $282. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BLOOMINGDALE’S

Botanical Prints

“Color is also back in a big way this season and I’m excited to see all of my favorite primary colors pop back onto the scene. I’m also loving the emergence of botanical prints, which add a fun and tropical flare. I love the idea of Chicagoans using prints and colors to add a pop of excitement to their wardrobe on dreary days.”

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Spoiler alert: the archetypal Italian mamma, part Sophia Loren, part fecund Mother Theresa is, in reality, quite thin on the ground. Italy has the lowest birthrate in Europe. The eventual extinction of the Italian race is a matter of considerable hand wringing here.

Dolce & Gabbana to the rescue. If the clothes in this tribute to mothers don't lead to a population spike in nine months, there is no hope for Italian manhood. These clothes make women look the way God surely intended.

This was classic Dolce & Gabbana territory, for which read an update on their beloved 1950s and 1960s tailoring. Waist-lines were subtly raised and darts adjusted to make torsos seem even trimmer and legs longer, no matter what - as model Bianca Balti, six months pregnant, proved.

Balti's baby has yet to make an appearance, but 11 other tots made it onto the catwalk with their mothers, including little Emily with her mother Ashleigh Good; the lushly named Azzurra with Eloise Fontes and Raffaele with Olga Serve. And there wasn't one tantrum, not even from the adults.

The cute factor was off the Richter scale and there may even have been some tears in the front row, especially from Stefano Gabbana's 84-year-old mamma, although that may have been because she was missing the iPad her recently gave her.

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Ashleigh Good with her baby daughter Emily

"It's good to see emotions on the catwalk," said Gabbana. "Domenico and I were talking about this the other day, and we decided in a way, our job is like social reportage. We wanted to pay tribute to the family and show how important it is, now more than ever."

The signature Dolce & Gabbana dainty, tailored jacket with (removable) padding over the hips was present and looked particularly luscious in cream wool. So too did slim and full skirts, and the occasional mini dress (mammas work out these days).

Drawings by the children of Dolce employees were printed on to silk. Lace and wool were embroidered with loving messages, or appliqued with red roses or jewels. Mamma is not a cheap date.

Occasionally - for she is a very traditional kind of mamma - she slipped into a mink cape, lined with lace.

Dolce & Gabbana's financial resources, combined with the designers' wit and the ingenuity of their workrooms enable them to explore every last angle of a theme, down to the transparent heels of their silk tango shoes, which were filled with the contents of mamma's handbag - her lipsticks for instance.

Tiaras, introduced as a tongue- in-cheek accessory a few season ago, have become a cult hit, and now incorporate headphones. Since they belong to mamma, let's hope they're noise cancelling.

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Bridesmaid for Hire consists of 4 packages for brides to choose from, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,000.

A new trend is catching on in the wedding industry and already, some 'sophisticated' brides might consider hiring aprofessional bridesmaid for their big day.

So, if you are getting married this year and don't want to go through the hassle of deciding which of your friends should be on your bridal train, you can hire the services of a professional bridesmaid for $2,000 (N382,599.38).

We all know weddings are very stressful and one minor mishap can turn a bride from beautiful to bridezilla. In order to avoid this, 26-year-old Jen Glantz, a copywriter and author of All My friends Are Engaged, created BridesmaidforHire.com. In a nutshell, her services acts as a "gal pal" for the bride.

Bridesmaid for Hire consists of 4 packages for brides to choose from, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to $2,000. The cheapest package is a virtual consultation where they will assist with planning, problem solving and to-do lists through the use of an online video collaboration tool.

Of all the packages, the most expensive one is the hands-on "bridesmaid by your side" option for $2,000, which will provide on-ground support for all pre-wedding events and actual participation as a bridesmaid or maid of honour in the wedding party. According to Glantz, the average package sold is between $1,000 to $1,200.

The concept of hiring a wedding professional may be approaching a cultural watershed. Just as it was depicted in the recently released movie, "Wedding Ringer" that chronicles the story of a socially awkward guy who hires a professional who provides best men for needy grooms. Separately, the 2011 hit "Bridesmaids" showed the disaster that can ensue when you opt to go the traditional route with friends.

The increasing popularity of hiring professional wedding party participants begs the question of the price tag that we are willing to allocate to look good in front of other people. So how much is your ego really worth?

Glantz decided to start the business a little over a year ago, when she had attended so many weddings that her friends nicknamed her the "Professional Bridesmaid." She posted an advertisement on Craigslist that quickly went viral.

The demand from women all over the country asking for professional bridesmaid services ultimately became so overwhelming that she decided to create the website. That became a platform to assist many brides in need.

"When I was in multiple weddings for friends, I saw behind the scenes for the wedding … I saw there was a lack of a person who is designated for the bride and her personal needs," said Glantz.

Though the concept of renting a bridesmaid or groomsman may seem ridiculous to some, the demand that Glantz experienced is indicative of the changing landscape of personal connection. The necessity is so strong that people are now paying for it.

Would you hire a professional bridesmaid for your wedding? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

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If you run a business or offer a service that could help make a couple’s big day, the wedding fayre at the Mercure Hull Grange Park hotel in Willerby is one not to miss. And if you';re a bride or groom-to-be, make a note in your diary. Admission is free!

It’s the most special day in any couple’s life, and when it comes to getting married, it’s important that every detail is right.

But with the dress, the suits, the flowers, the food and much, much more to organise, it can be overwhelming.

That is why the Hull Daily Mail, publishers of The Journal, has teamed up with the Mercure Hull Grange Park hotel in Willerby to organise the wedding fair of the year.

Taking place on Sunday, March 8, it promises to be the biggest and best in East Yorkshire.

Hundreds of brides and grooms-to-be who have registered an interest with the hotel, a popular venue for weddings, will be contacted, along with couples who entered the newspaper’s recent highly successful Win a Wedding competition and invited to attend.

Plus the trusted local reach of the Hull Daily Mail and its various online and printed publications will ensure the fair receives more attention than any other.

Steve Newby, sales manager at the hotel, said hosting the prestigious event would be a privilege.

“It’s going to be a fantastic day,” he said.

“We aim to make this the most successful wedding fair ever and the biggest in the East Yorkshire.

“It’s a chance for us to showcase where the wedding market is and all the brilliant products and services that are out there.

“And from our perspective, we want people to see our property and to get our interactive wedding brochure, which we believe is the first of its kind, out there.”

Among the exhibitors already attending is Sasha Stamford, of the sought-after Chocolate Fountain Experience, based in Hull.

Sasha believes the best way for potential customers to experience the fountains, and other ways to make a wonderful wedding, is to see her and her team in action at the fair. She said: “It’s lovely to meet couples when they are planning their wedding and then see them again on the big day.

“They can also put a face to the name, which is really nice and so much more personal.”

Fair organiser Jane Smallwood urged other exhibitors to book their place before it is too late.

She said: “The fair will be an inspirational day for brides and grooms where they can quickly and simply buy or book exactly what they want for their wedding while businesses are pitching right in front of them.

“What makes this fair different is that we can make contact with more couples than anyone else in the area.

“Over the course of a week, for example, we reach 287,000 people in print and online, so the opportunity to join us on March 8 is one that will really benefit businesses. “With packages starting at just £90 plus VAT, there is something for everyone.”

The fair runs from 11am to 4pm.

Free parking is available and entry is free to the public.

Why I'm taking part

Sasha Stamford, of Chocolate Fountain Experience, will be at the Hull Daily Mail Wedding Fayre.

She said: “I’ve been running the business for just over 12 years, predominately in the Hull area, but we do travel.

“I believe I have the largest selection of chocolate fountains available in the area and we have got lots of different sizes to suit all kinds of weddings and venues.”

Prices start from just £300, including set-up and staff, offering the perfect way to get guests talking at everything from an intimate gathering to a party for 1,000 people.

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We're not just talking stately homes and meringue dresses here, but Steven Goode and Kimberly Kisselovich are planning to turn their big day into a mini music festival.

The Big Brother lovebirds are in the thick of securing A-list names, rising stars and, of course, a few familiar faces from the show on which they met.

But that's not all, the cash-splashing duo are also hoping to secure a firework spectacular, which will spin into a six-figure fee.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online, Steven revealed they have finally picked their date too – April 18, 2015.

He told us: "We have a wonderful location in East Hertfordshire, a beautiful mansion house with an amazing ground, although we did ponder of having it in Hawaii.

"All Kim's family and friends are coming over from the US – we have people from New York, California and Florida – travelling over for the wedding of the century."

And while the entrepreneur has never been shy about spending his dough, he did admit he's surprised by just how much the whole shebang is costing.

Steven said: "We're pulling out every single stop we can. Our venue cost a lot and we're putting on a huge fireworks display with all the pyrotechnics and lasers – a true spectacular.

"These kinds of displays range from £1,000 to £100k, put it like this, we're on the higher end of the spectrum. After all, I always said I'd spend a mil on my wedding."

But it's not all style over substance, with the star-crossed lovers investing dollar into entertainment rather than simply trying to out-throne the Beckhams or out-pumpkin carriage Katie Price.

Steven continued: "We've spoken to Francine Lewis, the impressionist on Britain's Got Talent, are still hoping Gary Barlow agrees to sing, and we've been in touch with X Factor's Fleur East.

"The final line-up will wow guests, but also fans as we're considering a live stream of the day. There have been chats about a main TV channel doing a one-hour special of the wedding."

Taking into consideration their now-infamous hashtag #openit, we couldn't resist asking if any new buzz words might be introduced into their vows.

Steven – who revealed a pre-nup is currently under discussion – said: "We were talking about this the other day, you'll have to wait and see.

"Although we can reveal that Kim may walk down the aisle to the Big Bro theme tune as Marcus Bentley narrates the time in the background."

Speaking of #openit, Steven said the newlyweds-to-be will be keeping things very traditional in contrast to their naughty reputation.

He added: "We will spend the night apart before our nuptials, and therefore wait until after the wedding for a full blown #openit session.

"I think after one night apart, we can certainly beat our five times in the house!!"

Unfortunately Angelina Jolie, Elton John and Rihanna were unavailable for bridesmaid and best men duties, but Steverly will be flanked by reality TV's finest Ash Harrison, Helen Wood and Biannca Lake – with brow king Mark Byron as usher.

For the finger-waggers blethering, ' but you only met them five minutes ago', Steven explained: "What people don't understand is that the BB lot have been a huge support to us and really have become our closest friends.

"I'm taking everyone we've chosen, our siblings too, to our villa in Spain to have a weekend discussing all the arrangements. It's going to be an incredible first quarter of 2015."

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Speaking to a media conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan asked the government to either form the Judicial Commission by January 18 or they would take to the roads again.

He said they would bring the whole country to a grinding halt if and when they wanted to. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jehangir Tareen and other party leaders flanked him.“But we don’t want to do this. The government has time till January 18 to form the Judicial Commission to probe last year’s general election or we will announce our future line of action on January 18,” he warned.

He claimed there were as many as 30,000 bogus votes in NA-122, whereas in Jehangir Tareen’s constituency, 49,000 bogus votes were traced, which spoke volumes about rigging. Imran again said they had proof of counterfeit ballot papers, which were printed and distributed among the PML-N candidates.

About reports of his marriage to a female TV anchorperson, Imran played very carefully and smilingly promised to share the good news during this week.He said being Sunnat-e-Rasool it was not a crime towed and added one could marry if and when he wished and it was not like cheating on one’s wife.

The PTI chief acknowledged that divorce was already quite painful to his children and he never wanted to hurt them further by marrying again. He continued now that he had met his sons, he would share the good news within a week.

He said, “Marriage is not a crime and I don’t believe in hiding it. I will share good news with the nation within this week when I am in Pakistan,” he said.He confirmed that he had married for the second time — to former BBC presenter Reham Khan.

The News has learnt from a source close to Imran Khan and Reham Khan that they don’t plan to hold a grand wedding ceremony and the public part of their wedding will only be a “formality”. But a family source has told The News that the two tied the knot several weeks ago and any ‘public display of a Nikah’ will be for the public consumption only, aimed at controlling the ‘fallout’.

“Khan Sahib plans to announce his Nikah plan and date of the Nikah at a pro-PTI private television show,” said the source requesting anonymity, but confirming that themarriage decisions of Imran Khan had rocked the party and Imran Khan’s family in Pakistan and London.

On Monday night when Imran Khan reached the Heathrow Airport to board the PIA flight to Islamabad, Geo News was the first to ask Imran Khan directly if he was going to make a “major announcement” in Pakistan about his wedding following a meeting with the core committee, Imran Khan initially hesitated but then, following another question, spoke out for the first time stating that “marriage is not a crime, tell me please if it’s a crime?”.

Imran Khan was surprised that there was so much interest shown in his marriage but smiled broadly when congratulated on his marriage by this correspondent telling him that interest in his marriage was the result of his current level of popularity in Pakistan.

Imran Khan’s sister reacted furiously to the news of the marriage stating she was taken aback and shocked and that she doesn’t want to meet Reham Khan. But Imran Khan told a press conference in Islamabad that marriage was the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) and it was his right to marry anyone of his choice.

“A person can marry whenever he/she wants. I didn’t think of my marriage for 10 years after my divorce because my children were young. I do not ever think of hurting my children’s feelings,” Imran Khan said in reference to his visit to London over the weekend where he talked to his sons Suleman Isa Khan and Qasim Khan and attempted to explain to them about his marriage to Reham Khan.

Earlier, Imran Khan had said that rumours of his marriage were “greatly exaggerated” and Aleema Khan, his sister, said the family challenged him “a few days ago” over the news and he denied it.

When contacted by Daily Mail that her brother had revealed he had actually married, Aleema Khan said: “Really? Really? Let’s see if he announces it officially. I am taken aback. This is a real challenge for him. We haven’t met her and I don’t know that we want to meet her.

“It is his decision, he is a grown up. It is more important how the children feel. I suppose in any situation like this the children will not feel good about it. They do look up to their father.” She hoped Reham Khan “will be good for Pakistan and our brother”.

Jemima Khan, ex-wife of Imran Khan, hoped the former cricket hero will be happy in his new phase of life and wished him well. But Jemima Khan’s tweets suggested that all was not well between Imran Khan and his sons and Jemima herself when she profusely thanked thePakistanis for their affection and support but didn’t thank Imran Khan. Sources say Jemima and her sons are upset with Imran Khan for keeping his secret marriage a ‘secret’ from them.

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For same-sex couples in Central Florida, the opportunity to get married in Florida seemed like an impossible dream with the passage of a state constitutional amendment that banned gay marriage and civil unions in 2008.

Now, with a federal court ruling overturning that amendment, couples are planning to exchange vows starting Jan. 6.

Reno Deschaine and Gary Jilek

Reno Deschaine and Gary Jilek don't believe in wasting time. As soon as a judge opened the way for same-sex marriage in Florida, they wanted to be married.

Behind their sense of urgency has been the doubt fueled by Florida's prolonged legal battle over the issue.

Jilek even urged his family in Wisconsin, where gay marriage is legal, to hold off plans to attend their wedding ceremony at Orlando City Hall on Jan. 6.

"It's frustrating because my family wants to make plans, and I'm telling them, 'Don't schedule anything for the sixth because I can't tell you that it's actually going to happen,'" said Jilek, 47, a business analyst.

But once they are married, the couple plan to host a reception at a later date for their friends and family at their high-rise condo in downtown Orlando.

"We'll have it as a celebration of our marriage, but also to celebrate our family and friends who have stuck by us and supported us this whole time," said Deschaine, a global-operations director for a Maitland company who has been with Jilek for 18 years.

Deschaine, 43, and Jilek met in Milwaukee and moved to Orlando together. They believe they'll be participating in a historic moment for equal rights by being wed on the first day that gay marriage is legal in Florida.

"It's about equality and no longer being made to feel like a second-class citizen," Deschaine said. "At the end of the day, everyone should have the same protections and guarantees from the government and the Constitution."

Tammie Kaufman and Kimberly Jackson

They've been partners for nearly 10 years, and Tammie Kaufman figured that was how it would always be: an unmarried couple for the rest of their lives.

"I was saying we'd be in our walkers before it [same-sex marriage] happened in Florida," Kaufman said.

Now they are planning their wedding: a small ceremony in the home of their best friends.

"I didn't think it would come so quickly," said Kaufman, 45, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida.

They've set the date for Jan. 17 when a friend from Virginia comes to town. They are not in a hurry to get married or afraid the window of opportunity might close as quickly as it opened. Their relationship, after a decade, is stable and secure.

Being married means Jackson, 44, who has Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, would now be on Kaufman's health insurance.

"It's for security," Kaufman said. "There are so many rights you get by being married."

But even more than that, it would give their relationship a legal status that was never possible before as registered domestic partners.

"You can say I've been together with someone for 10 years," Kaufman said, "but when you say you're married, it's saying you are really in it for keeps."

Besides that, Jackson said, if it's now legal for same-sex couples to get married in the state of Florida, why wouldn't they get married?

"Getting married to me means I get to be with her for a long time in the eyes of the law," said Jackson, "It's saying it's OK for us to be together and so, damn it, we're going to be together."

Thomas Lawson and Michael Scott

Thomas Lawson and Michael Scott have big wedding plans: 150 guests, a four-tiered wedding cake, a DJ and dancing, filet mignon and a candy buffet coordinated to match the colors of the grooms' wedding tuxedos. They've reserved two ballrooms at the Hyatt Regency Orlando and hired a wedding planner, John Michael Weddings, who is billing the event as the first gay marriage with full reception in Orlando.

Friends and relatives are flying in from all over the country.

It's an all-out, full-blown wedding for two guys who met a year and a half ago and became engaged in October. And it's happening faster than they expected.

"We thought we had a year to plan the wedding," said Lawson, 27, a supervisor with a local nonprofit. "But I like the idea that we are making this very personal occasion part of something that is historic for our community and our state."

At the time of their engagement, Lawson and Scott were determined to have a wedding ceremony even if same-sex marriage was not legal in Florida. But when a federal judge opened the door for legalized gay marriage in Florida, the couple fast-tracked their wedding plans.

There have been hitches and lawsuits and legal opinions and other ups and downs along the way, but the couple have been too busy planning their wedding to pay much attention.

All they know is their dream wedding is becoming a dream come true — regardless of whether their marriage is legal now, later or never.

"We knew we were going to make this commitment to each other. Let's not put it off. Let's just do it," said Scott, 27, a retail manager.

Amy Barnard and Kelly Brown

Amy Barnard and Kelly Brown, who have been together for eight years, plan to drive from their St. Petersburg home to get married in the mass ceremony planned by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

"The second we can make this happen, no matter where we have to drive, we want to do it immediately," said Barnard, 44, a certified nurse's assistant who works with hospice patients. "Then we will come home and plan our beach wedding where we can include our family and friends."

Participating in a marriage ceremony with other gay couples will make the occasion more memorable than standing together before a justice of the peace, Barnard said.

"We thought it would be even more amazing to participate in a mass service where everyone feels the same, everyone's in love, and you're with a bunch of happy people," she said.

The couple, who have been engaged since 2008, said they thought of getting married in another state where same-sex marriage is legal, but knew the rights and benefits of a marriage license elsewhere would be invalid in Florida.

"We just thought that's a lot of ho-ha to come home and not be recognized [as a married couple]," Barnard said. "It's been such a long time that we've wanted to be each other's wife. It means so much to us to get the same respect and benefits that other couple's take for granted."

Brown, a 43-year-old restaurant manager, said she has spent her life waiting for this moment of equality to arrive.

"This means everything to me. I know I was born gay, and it's always been a struggle to get the same rights as everyone else," she said.

There are many rights, large and small, that bind a married couple together in ways not possible to unmarried partners.

"I would love to have my drivers license to have her last name on it. I would be covered on her insurance. We could buy a home together," Barnard said. "We just want to be connected to each other in every way possible."

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The co-founder of a website which ranked Amal Alamuddin as the hottest barrister in London has hit out at her "unseemly and in-your-face" wedding to George Clooney.

Natalia Naish has slammed what she described as the "back-patting smugness that has accompanied the entire courtship and ceremony" between the couple.

Ms Naish previously put 36-year-old Ms Alamuddin at the top of her Barrister Hottie list for her website Your Barrister Boyfriend.

But in an article for Legal Cheek, she criticised the London-based lawyer for selling pictures of her wedding in Venice to glossy magazines - even comparing her to Hollywood socialite Kim Kardashian.

She wrote: "The problem I have with the Clooney wedding was not the excessiveness per se, but the back-patting smugness that has accompanied the entire courtship and ceremony.

"Even though George and Amal careened around Venice in speedboats, posed up a storm for the paparazzi like modern-day royalty and sold their wedding photos to glossy magazines, they received none of the tut-tutting that was directed at Kim Kardashian.

"Why? Because Kim Kardashian is perceived as vacant and shameless while George is supposedly a sophisticated humanitarian."

She continued: "The entire Clooney/Alamuddin wedding was a masterful piece of Hollywood magic. It was wildly expensive, carefully choreographed, predictably sentimental and satisfyingly public."

Ms Naish went on to accuse Clooney, 53, of being hypocritical for publicly slating the behaviour of tabloid newspapers despite selling pictures of his wedding to Hello! magazine.

She said: "Hello! Magazine has just come out with an exciting 40-page spread of the wedding, giving us unlimited access to their intimate and heartfelt ceremony. This seems quite rich given George’s hatred of tabloids and his very public spat with the Daily Mail."

Yesterday Ms Alamuddin's best friend Jae Kim said men had been "intimidated" by her before she met Clooney.

She told People magazine that she had concerns her friend would not end up in a lasting relationship after she was voted the most attractive barrister in London.

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