DEAR PETER:
Where do I begin in my search for wedding essentials? I need info on the various problems that I will encounter, as well as the ins and outs of preparation. Please give me a basic starting point.
Weddings - Where do I Start?

DEAR WEDDINGS:
Visit "The Wedding Source" at http://www.pep.com/pep/tws/tws.html for an all-in-one source on the Internet for wedding preparation.

The site includes links to a number of other Internet wedding related sites including sites featuring software for writing "Automatic Wedding Speeches." There is a link to a site that focuses on including children in wedding ceremonies. There are Honeymoon travel sites listed, as well as Bridal Fashion sites.

Additional listings include sites featuring photo and video, jewelry, gifts and registries, flowers, invitations and announcements, and entertainment. There are links to the two main wedding newsgroups, "alt.wedding" and "soc.couples.wedding".

Perhaps the most useful information on the page is the section that has links to various wedding software. There are four: "I Do, The Ultimate Wedding Planner"; "Bridesmaid for Windows"; "The Wedding Planner"; and "Emily Post's Complete Guide to Weddings on CD-ROM".

If all else fails, grab one of the software packages as your ultimate wedding "to-do" guide -- so that you don't forget little things like the confetti or the caviar.

Best of luck with your wedding!

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DEAR PETER:
Some people seem to be against inter-racial marriages? What do you think?
Supportive of Inter-Racial Marriage

DEAR SUPPORTIVE:
I've heard many arguments against inter-racial marriages, as we all have. Some social leaders, who purportedly are against racism, still propose that races shouldn't mix in marriage in order to maintain cultural or racial purity.

I am 100% in favor of inter-racial marriages. Why?

Primarily because I believe that each human being was created by God as His child, and that all humankind should exist in the relationship of a real, "blood-related" family. In this regard, of what consequence is color?

One might ask why bring God into the racial equation. I think that the "God" or "No God" question is the whole crux of the racial issue. If God doesn't exist, and we all developed from monkeys, then one could form all kinds of theories about race relations. (As many people have.)

On the other hand, if God does exist, and if He created humankind as his family of equal sons and daughters, with unselfish love as the central purpose of that family, then race is a total non-issue. It's like persecuting your physical brother because he likes to wear green jackets instead of red.

It's truly unfortunate that so many religious people have been unable to look at other races with this God-centered "family" viewpoint. It's also unfortunate that the "God" issue has been almost entirely cast out of the public forum when it comes to discussing social issues such as this one.

Based on this "world family" viewpoint, inter-racial marriage is not only appropriate - it is perhaps the quickest way to combat racism. With the races mixed up, who can persecute whom?

As a side note, visit the INTERRACIAL VOICE web page at http://www.webcom.com/~intvoice/. It focuses on the issue of gaining a "multi-racial" category on the US Census by the year 2000.