Bill Clinton used to be extremely powerful as the President of the United States, but not even he can overcome a poorly-chosen wedding date.

His and Hilary’s only daughter Chelsea is getting married on 31 July 2010. As soon as I saw the date my heart sank (and it must have spooked another astrologer, Jeff Warren, as well).

The date of your marriage – or starting a new job, house purchase, website launch, or incorporation of a business, for example – is the birthday of that event. Just like a person, an event has its own personality.

On 31 July, there is a tough, uncompromising Mars conjunct Saturn in Libra. Mars rules action, energy, sexual drive and anger while Saturn rules endurance, responsibility, depression, delays and maturity. A conjunction locks two planets together (like strangers in a lift.) Libra, of course, is the sign of marriage, relationships, partnerships and allies. (You can see where this is going, can’t you?)

Mars and Saturn are naturally at odds – Mars wants to floor it, while Saturn wants to slam the brakes on. This is a classic aspect for stress, blocked energies, obstacles and frustration. I’m not crazy on seeing it in a sign that rules marriage.

As well, the Moon is in Aries. The Moon is the planet of home and family, what makes you feel cosy, safe and nurtured. Aries is fiery, impatient, restless and egocentric. A marriage date with Moon in Aries can make it a battle royale of over-achievers at best, a selfish, cold and competitive arena at home at worst.

An aspect that occurs only two days prior, which still has plenty of punch - Mars in Libra opposite rebellious Uranus in Aries on 29 July - only adds to the impatience, restlessness and relationship upsets. And one that occurs three days later on 3 August, Jupiter in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn is equally indicative of pressure from authority (um, guess who?!).

To top it off, there are no water element signs in their marital chart to add some much-needed softness, emotional understanding, intuition and compassion.

Chelsea and her new husband, Marc Mezvinsky, will have to work very hard to not to fight to be top dog in this marriage.

Not that I’m a travel agent, but if I was, there are some holidays I know certain Sun signs would love to take – or better yet, receive as an anniversary, birthday, Christmas or wedding gift!

So when I saw that Fairmont Hotels and Resorts had recently launched their Apprentice Trips program, which combines their globally famous luxury brand with a range of accommodation-based activities that relate directly to the culture or landscape of the locale, and, with hotels in 16 different countries, well, that’s a lot of “experiential” packages to choose from.

Talkative Geminis keen to parlez avec vous might enjoy booking the seven-night French Immersion Package at the historic Chateau in Quebec City while environmentally-aware Aquarians could rush for the Eco-Learning Package at the Faimont Kea Lani in Maui. They can choose from one of five eco-learning activities at the resort, which include organic farming in a rainforest, and helping to preserve Hawaii’s archaeological sites by planting native species, among others.

Cancerians may either thrill to Shop With Chef at local markets in Toronto while enjoying a two-night stay at the Fairmont Royal York, or harvesting and hands-on cooking of ingredients from the Secret Garden package in the Fairmont Singapore.

No need for Taureans to book in overnight for the four-hour-plus Sweet Designs package at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver – they can have their chocolate (or cake) – and eat it too.

Virgo golfing nuts might enjoy a Tees to Greens stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale where they receive helpful golfing techniques and a behind-the-scenes look at how golf courses are kept so pristine!

In the United Arab Emirates, the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr offers a four-night package for guests to master the regal skill of falconry (the falcon is the UAE’s national bird). I can see this appealing to Leos who think they’re a bit sheik.

In Monte Carlo, guests interested in perfume and exotic oils can broaden their knowledge with the Magic of Aromachology Package, which also includes a 60-minute aromachology massage for two. Wonderful for Pisces.

Librans can choose from taking their favourite best friend with them to Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Miami for the Gal Pal Experience, learning how to do proper back rubs, facials and foot massages, or to learn The Art of Buying Art at the Fairmont Dallas. Since they have a keen eye for art, this one might appeal.

Novice hikers and mountaineers can head to the Fairmont Yangcheng Lake resort in Kunshan, China for the Adventure Awaits package. Gotta-be-first Aries and explorer-mad Sagittarians would love to try this out!

Even politics gets a look-in, with the How to Pass a Bill in Washington Package at the Fairmont, Washington D.C., where a Federally registered lobbyist will advise participants on the crafting and promoting of an agenda. Constitutionally, a bill only requires three steps to become law in the US. Who would have thought that first step could take place while you were on holidays? This is just perfect for power-broking Scorpios and Capricorns.

If you’re keen to ramp up the sensuality factor in an existing relatinship, maybe you’re dating someone newish and want to um, seal the deal, or you’ve been together for ages and it’s time to make a commitment, circle Tuesday 13 July.

That date has a very erotic aspect: Venus (love, beauty) in Virgo trine Pluto (depth, sexuality) in Capricorn. When these two planets meet, glances are exchanged, sensuality dominates and no-one wants to stay platonic anymore!

If you’ve been thinking of proposing, this is the best date in July to get engaged. It follows the New Moon in Cancer (New Moons always mean fresh starts, growth and beginnings) and Cancer rules family.

A Venusian Virgo proposal suggests you’ve thought things out romantically with a cool head - it’s not a Las Vegas quickie-style elopement you’re after – and Pluto in Capricorn points to long-term, unconditional commitment.

These two earthy signs want to build something over a long period of time; Venus wants to be adored and Pluto just wants to have sex!

If you have any interest in having children, you could be extra-fertile today…

As parents often say, babies grow up sooooo quickly!

So it makes sense to give them a baby gift which will appreciate over time.

One particularly good baby gift idea possibly for an aunt, uncle or grandparent to give is the establishment of an education fund to help pay for their schooling or university education, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars – more if it’s a private school or they board, for example.

While it’s still decades off, putting a small amount in per month can add up quickly and will help parents with the increasing financial burden of raising children.

AMP have created an interesting promotion where you receive a $25 Myers department store gift card in return for opening an AMP Growth Bond. Obviously you’ll need to see your accountant to see if this bond is right for you…but hey, what a great baby gift option!

I can see this particularly appealing to those long-term planners, the Capricorns!

The US TV show Saturday Night Live has just recorded its highest ratings for the last 18 months thanks to a pre-Mother’s Day show with octogenarian comedienne Betty White.

Millions tuned in to watch the Golden Girl ham it up and show what she’s made of.

Betty is a Capricorn who are known for climbing the career ladder, slowly but surely. They also have the interesting knack of looking younger as they get older! 

What I love about this is that people have finally realised that old people still make great entertainers. Comedians George Burns and Bob Hope performed well into their 90s but until Betty grabbed the attention and affection of enormously influential Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton, no-one else over the age of say, 65, has been in the spotlight.

Betty’s Mother’s Day gift has been to help make the elderly visible and relevant. Imagine – people tuning in to enjoy watching an 88-year-old woman! You can just see the TV executives on their Monday morning meeting, saying, “Right, she was great! Who else is old and funny? The crowd is lapping it up! We better get some more of them.”

With Baby Boomers aged 44-62 and making up the largest slice of the population, ageing is an issue which all companies must face. Older people wield a great deal of wealth and it has been an enormous mistake to present advertising and entertainment centrign mainly on twentysomethings

Pluto which rules power, taboo topics and generational change entered Capricorn which rules old age and the elderly among other things, in November 2008. Pluto takes a looooong time to move through each time but each time, he totally revolutionises it.

Pluto will stay in Capricorn until 2024. By that time, I predict that older people will be represented much more heavily in TV, movies and music (the Rolling Stones are all in their 60s now and will probably still be carrying on in another 15 years).

For ageing mothers everywhere (ever noticed how nearly all the retailers’ ads feature yummy mummies in their 20s or 30s?), Betty’s huge popularity must have been a particularly happy “gift” in time for Mother’s Day.

As we all know, most couples getting married these days have already been living together, they may have already been married; they certainly have all the kitchen accoutrements you can poke a meat thermometer at, but you can never have enough date nights once you’re married!

One very clever Chicago couple who lurrrves to eat out realised that they too, didn’t want any more traditional department store registry “stuff”, but were busting (hopefully not out of their pants) to try some of the latest and greatest restaurants to hit Oprah’s hometown city.

They’ve created Foodie Registry which allows couples to select restaurants they’d love to try, for their guests to give them a gift certificate towards dining there, and it’s a wonderful idea actually for anyone else who’d love a special night out for say, their anniversary or birthday.

It also makes it soooooo much easier for couples to have something to write about in their wedding gift thank you cards. They’re going to be much more genuinely excited about dining at say, French restaurant Marche, than say, a pair of white hand towels.

Foodie Registry plans to expand into other American cities, too. Expect a queue of Taureans, Leos, Librans and Capricorns…

What do you give your wife for Christmas and her 30th birthday who you’ve scorned publicly and worldwide?

If you’re Tiger Woods, you give your deeply unimpressed wife Elin Nordegren a cool $300 million in cash so she can buy herself a little something. Hell – you could buy an entire department store chain with that.

By Valentine’s Day he would have been emptying his bank account faster than his little Capricorn Sun could have handled thanks to his dwindling sponsorships, so he “economised” with a $3 million customised sport boat for Elin, called um, Solitude so she could go diving, which is her favourite sport.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. I’d love to see what he comes up with then. I honestly don’t think he can buy his way (or his wife back) out of this one…

It’s becoming increasingly common for couples to request cash, not gifts, for their wedding present.

But many guests feel a bit squeamish about handing over cash and many worry that it’s just going to be spent frivolously.

In 1996, the US Federal Housing Administration encourage lenders to offer bridal registry accounts where couples could stash away cash from family and friends towards a loan for their first home.

SunTrust Mortgage, a subsidiary of SunTrust Bank was one lender which created a wedding registry, where guests would make a deposit and the company would notify the bride and groom to let them know. It is such a practical way to help them get a loan together, that it’s surprising that more banks haven’t got in on the act.

A credit union in Los Angeles, Water and Power Community Credit Union (WPCCU) has just launched the MatriMoney wedding registry savings account to help couples get over the (deposit) threshold. They get gift instruction cards to include with their wedding invitations and gift-givers receive acknowledgement cards of their cash gifts once deposited.

Unlike any other wedding gift registry, WPCCU also offers free online financial webinars for newly engaged couples to learn how to budget and manage their money.

I think this could particularly appeal to couples where at least one of them is a security-conscious, long-term planner Taurus, Cancer, Virgo or Capricorn!

When I read about singer Katy Perry planning to give her brand-new fiancee, Russell Brand, a lilac Bentley for Valentines Day, I thought, “wooah, there, girl!”

They got engaged very romantically on the Full Moon of New Year’s Eve in India after dating since only September 2009.

Whichever way you cut it, after barely five months, they still don’t know each other very well. Yeah, yeah in THAT sense but it takes time for a person’s chart to unfold.

The strongest aspects around their chart have to do with Uranus (no jokes, please) which indicate sudden, enormous attraction, crackling electricity, independence, unconventionality, friendship, but also a definite on-off quality to their relationship.

The sign your Jupiter is in is where you find fun, joy, generosity, and optimism. Katy has hers in Capricorn. While the Mars-Jupiter conjunction that she has is renowned for being super-impulsive (compulsive, even), Capricorn is not known for being splashy with money and prefers to climb the career ladder, building a solid reputation. She also has the Sun, Moon and Mercury in Scorpio which means she is completely passionate – yet also highly strategic.

While I don’t doubt she fancies Russell’s pants off (his Mars in Aries trines her Venus in Sagittarius – lovely for a romantic, sexual attraction), she’s no fool and knows her flamboyant gesture would get publicised (which kinda ruins the surprise for him).

I’m not convinced that these guys can make it last the distance however. Russell has his Moon, Mars and Jupiter in Aries which means he feels, acts and has fun spontaneously. Plus he’s a Gemini and boy, are they hard to tie down! Katy’s more of a planner so his impulsive proposal may come unstuck as transiting Jupiter and Uranus in Aries (mid-year), Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn in Libra hit their charts over the next couple of years.

Better keep the receipt for the Bentley!!!

Some Sun signs luvrrve Valentines Day and all its romantic trappings (guess who?!) while others loathe it. How does your partner react to Valentines Day?

If they’re a typical:

Aries – they could be all hot and heavy, keen and ardent (especially if you have other suitors after you) or frankly selfish and ignore the whole day if you’ve been together for years. They tend to do things in a rush so they might pick up a bunch of flowers and a box of Cadbury Roses from the service station at the last minute.

Taurus – they tend to like doing the same things, over and over and over. If you received roses last year, it’s a pretty good bet you’ll get ‘em this year too. Got a favourite restaurant?  You could well be there too on the day. Most Taureans like floral fragrances, on the sweet side, such as magnolia. Anything that affects their five senses is off to a good start.

Gemini – they love surprises and novelty. They may start the day off with a cute text message or love note on your pillow. They can write fantastic love letters when they’re in the mood. These are the ones who may surprise you with one of those personalised novels with both of you starring in it. Then again these are the guys who will make light of your 50-year marriage with a joke card.

Cancer – male Cancers feel put-upon and obligated to “do” Valentines Day, grumbling it’s all a commercial exercise. Female Cancers are devastated if their mate forgets or organises nothing and will hold a grudge for the following week. No money? Cook ‘em a wonderful meal at home.

Leo – I hope you have some money if you’re with a Leo! Only the best will do, thanks. Valentines Day is your chance (along with their birthday, anniversary, Christmas.. you get the idea) to prove how much you worship (sorry, LOVE) them. While Valentines Day falls on a Sunday this year, they are especially happy if their colleagues go green with envy as a courier delivers a glorious package/hamper etc to them at work.

Virgo – you can probably save your money if you’re with a Virgo as they’re most likely to see it as corny, demeaning and a waste of money. That said though, if you do a load of washing, the dishes, some vacuuming and the bathroom that will put them in the mood for a bit of loving’ and squeezin’ faster than any box of candy will.

Libra – pull out all the stops, guys. I know Valentines Days falls during Sun in Aquarius, but really, this is Libra’s day! Whether you’re giving them chocolates, flowers, jewellery, lingerie, perfume, personalised romantic gifts, a restaurant dinner, weekend away or all of the above, don’t stint – and don’t ignore them.

Scorpio – the types of gifts Scorpios like to receive aren’t the ones I can publish here… Do nothing however and watch out!

Sagittarius – they love chocolate, laugh at lingerie and tend to lose jewellery, so if you can wing it, give them a weekend away where you can explore something. Both sexes see themselves as adventurers so try something new.

Capricorns – female Capricorns are curiously sensitive to time passing and often put arbitrary deadlines on things ie Christmas – met the parents. New Year’s – decided to move in. Valentines Day – proposal??? This is a good time to let them know where they stand. Married Capricorns like to discuss plans for the future too. Oh, and a little bauble from Tiffany’s doesn’t hurt.

Aquarius – again, this is another bunch who find the concept icky. They’re most likely to arrange a casual BBQ with friends, taking particular care to invite those who are single so no-one feels left out. If you arrange anything, make it novel and unique.

Pisces – these guys are romantics on par with Librans. If you make no effort only to discover they’ve arranged some magical day for you, they will be crushed. Their ability to express their deepest feelings for you is touching – and memorable. While I wouldn’t normally recommend giving pets as gifts, these are the ones who would go ga-ga over a new puppy, kitten, hamster or school of goldfish. They keep all their cards and gifts from exes so ask them casually what their favourite gift was as it will give you a clue.