The January 2017 “Winter Weddings” Edition of MEN’S VOWS is here! Read it now: http://bit.ly/1TpkShd

If December is all about the sugarplum fairies, then January is all about the juice cleanse trainers.

We’ve completed one more trip round the month of over-indulgence to find ourselves back at the starting line of under-indulgence. And, with resolutions in hand, we are taking January on in hopes of taking the pounds off. We are going to bone up on that language we never quite mastered and log off of the social media we are a little too addicted to. Yes, January is the month where we aim to become everything we’ve ever thought we should be. And, January is the month where we once get comfortable back in our size 32 waist (or accept we’ve now crossed the line to 33) and in being the people we already are. Pretty darned great people at that.

But, if there is one resolution we must stick to as we head into the most unpredictable year most of us will ever experience, it to remain resolute. Resolute in the strength of our love for our partners and everyone in our community. Resolute in the fact that we have changed and will continue to change most any circumstance for the better. Resolute in the fact that all of the institutions we belong to – country, marriage, community, political party – are stronger than any one person, protest, term or slur and that we all have the power to bend history in the right direction. And, as we do, let’s not forget that we are here to support men who marry.

For this issue, as much as we can’t turn our backs on our shirtfronts stretching over our midsection, we also can’t deny the fact that it is winter. And, so, we are celebrating the winter wedding.

We will introduce you to Nicholas and Derek who, after ten years, got engaged and are escaping chilly Minnesota for Costa Rica and their Tamarindo resort destination wedding. We will go to the warm climes of Portugal for the wedding of Fernando and Rui.

Our Inspiration page hopes to prompt ideas for a winter wedding that is decidedly not Christmas-y, but definitely chic. Meanwhile our Style Guide will provide tips on the latest health tends (or fads?) including sleep and meditation! Check out Big Day for winter wedding locales and make sure, later this month, to read our Money and the Married Man column for expert advice from our Christopher Street financial planners, who specialize in same-sex couples.

And, as always, our social feeds will be replete with images, ideas and updates on… our workout progress! If it takes a village to pull off weddings, it certainly takes one to take off pounds!

Happy New Year to all.
– MVs

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