Lisa Linehan, 35, is getting married on February 15, 2011. Most of the wedding's details are already set -- she's picked out the venue, chosen a DJ, and narrowed her gown possibilities to four lucky finalists. There's just one thing missing: the husband-to-be.
Lisa, a singer-songwriter, has neither a fiance nor a long-term boyfriend. She intends to find her soul mate through what she's calling "Project Husband," a venture sponsored by Dallas's local CW affiliate. She's even written a song about it -- "I Want to Get Married" -- which you can hear in all its glory after the jump.
"I am an independent person who would like to be married, and this situation is just a different way of going about it," she says. "It's not entirely different from 'The Bachelorette.' It's more honest, and it provides more time, and it's more organic in many ways."
Fair enough, although even Jayson Blair looks honest when compared to "The Bachelorette." Still, we were intrigued by Lisa's kinda-clever, kinda-crazy mission. We called her up to learn more about Project Husband. And whether this is all really an elaborate plot to birth a reality show.
Lemondrop: What made you decide that you had to get married next year?
Well, I was at my friend's wedding in New York City in February of this year, and I thought to myself if I planned my wedding a year in advance, then I would have to get married. It was a really clear thought in the middle of the day as we were all getting ready for the ceremony. And I think it's also partially because I was about to turn 35, and I started thinking that I'd like to start a family with someone.
So what kind of husband are you looking for? Can you describe your perfect guy?
I'm looking for somebody who has a great sense of humor, who's intellectual and honest, who is upbeat, outgoing, who is very self-confident -- definitely someone who is independent and happy on his own, but who would like to be in a long-term relationship, and eventually have a family and children.
Do you think you've gotten more open-minded about dating since deciding to start the project?
Actually, I think so, because I had a really specific goal and time in mind. I realized I should be more open-minded, and I should give different guys a chance. And I've done that -- in the last six months, since I've launched this, I've dated more guys, probably, than I've dated in years.
How do you think you'll know when you meet your future husband?
I think that there will be a very consistent feeling that I'll have about one person. And I also feel like when I've met that person and spent some time with them -- say, several weeks -- that I'll get to the point where I won't really want to see anyone else.
But it hasn't happened yet?
Not really. I've had strong feelings, but I haven't gotten to the point where I've said, "I am ready to shut this down. I don't want to see anyone else."
Are you up front with the guys you date, telling them, "I'm in the market to get married"?
Yeah. I tell them up front. A lot of times if I'm set up by a friend, the friend will explain it and say, you know, "If you're not into this, you should say so now." Because some of my dates are filmed, and I take photos, and I blog, so if the guys aren't up for it, that's fine. But most of the guys have been supportive, and they've said things like, "I think you're a really cool girl. Even if I'm not the one, then I'm in your corner, and I hope it works out for you." There have been a couple guys who've said, "You're fun and you're great, but there's no way I'm going to want to get married anytime soon." And so that's good to know up front, because I don't really spend the time wondering, "Is he going to call? What does he want? What is he thinking?"
How have people criticized you since you launched the project?
Well, most of the negative reactions, honestly, have come from women. They've said, "It takes two," "You're selfish," or "You're spoiled," or -- one woman in Australia, after I interviewed on an Australian program -- said I'm ugly and I'll never get married. And that I'm desperate.
But I would say that's maybe 5 percent of the comments. The rest are really encouraging and hopeful. It seems to me that the people who react negatively are hurting themselves, or they've had bad relationships, or they're anti-marriage and they don't want to see it work out with me because they're unhappy.
On your blog, you've written things like "it's nice to avoid role confusion during a date." That's a pretty conservative stance. Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Sure, because I still believe that a woman has an equal right to be in the workplace and earn equal pay and create her own identity. But when it comes to dating and love and marriage, I feel like there has to be a balance, and that there has to be kind of a division of roles. And it's my experience in dating that when I have asserted myself in more male roles, the relationship doesn't work. And it's not to say that, you know -- to each his own. Each couple is very, very different. But I've found in dating that it works a little better to let the man play the game, and let him be the aggressor.
Do you think that once you find your guy, he might wish that he had had more of a role in the wedding-planning process?
The thing is that most guys don't really like to get bogged down in all the details. And he's going to have some input on the fun stuff -we'll be able to taste all the food and the different cakes that are available to us, and he can confer on color schemes and [things] like that. But I think any guy will be excited because everything has been thought through, from the ring to the honeymoon to the ceremony. I would think that the right guy will think this is an ingenious idea, and that he'll applaud my creativity.
At what point do you think you're going to start getting worried if you haven't met "the one" yet?
I think that if it gets down to the holidays, Thanksgiving time, and I just haven't met anybody that I think could be the guy, then I'll probably start to think, "This is going to be tough." Because it takes at least several weeks to develop a relationship, at the very least -- which means that I really would need to meet someone in the next couple months to be able to develop a relationship by the end of the year.
But even at that point, I don't feel that it's going to be time to panic, because either it's going to happen, or it's not. And it's been an amazing process and journey, and I'm focusing on enjoying that, and I'm hopeful that the end result will be positive.
What are you going to do if you don't end up meeting someone?
The vendors and I have talked about donating the ceremony to a couple in the area who needs it. So somebody will get married!
And emotionally, where do you think you'll be?
If it doesn't work out, then I'll move on, and I'm sure I will survive. But if it does, then I'll be happy that it did. I think emotionally, it's most important that I focus on looking for the connection. And I've been single for my whole life, so it's not as if I need this and I'm desperate for it. That's probably been the biggest criticism of people who are negative -- they're saying, "Oh, you're desperate, she's desperate." But I've been out with 52 different guys since I launched this. If I were truly desperate, I would have run into a relationship with one of those. So I really am looking for the real deal, and I hope I find it. But if I don't, I've lived this long independently, so it's not going to kill me.
You can read more about Lisa at Project Husband.
Hillary Busis has written for the Wall Street Journal online, Slate, AOL Television, and CollegeCandy.com. She blogs here.













Comments:
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Monday 09 August
By Bill Brown
A DJ? You picked out a DJ? Why a DJ? Why would you need a DJ? If you are going to just play recorded music, then why don't you just program an MP3 player to play the tunes in the sequence you want through a hi fi.....
HIRE A BAND! It is sooo much better, and so much more memorable...
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Monday 09 August
By Bill
Lisa, I am most definitely NOT the guy for you, but I wish you the fulfillment of your desire. My marriage came when I was 33 and lasted 43+ years. However, now as an elderly widower, I find it as challenging to find someone as I did when I was much younger, but it DID happen, and it stayed. Please follow your dream and let nothing and no one stop you!
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Monday 09 August
By william
I admire the whole idea in a way. Even as a guy in my mid-20's, I probably want to get married by 35 and possibly have children.
But the whole dent on it is that love is something you really can't set a deadline like that for. You never know what's gonna happen each day in life and this goes double for love and finding "the one". Perhaps she may meet someone next week that is so right, she'll want to get married next month.
Also, personally, with meeting potential partners, I always try to avoid putting this kind of pressure on, as it may complicate the dating process and create over-analyzing and obscured thinking.
Just go with the flow!!...(but then if you're getting near 50ish, maybe do the last resort method of personal ads or online dating :P
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Monday 09 August
By J9
I think true love takes time to develop and if you put a time table on that you are probably going to end up extremely disappointed. A lot of guys have commitment fears to begin with and if you start the first date off by saying "oh, by the way, make sure your calendar is free for February 15, 2011 because that's when we're getting married" he's going to run for the hills. I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope that you will find the love of your life.
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Monday 09 August
By thesby
i want to marry you!
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Monday 09 August
By good jewish boy
oyyyyyyy this is why us nice jewish boys marry christian women, see what we are told we should marry!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Monday 09 August
By ItGirl
Lena what the hell are you talking about? You sound crazy as sh*tballs! Stay on topic!
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Monday 09 August
By cece
um how about a wife? lol
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Monday 09 August
By Kathie
Well if you DONT get married.. donate it all to me.. im so broke.. we keep putting it off. entered tons of contests.. give it to me!!!!!!!
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Monday 09 August
By Ron
The song is great and would probably sound better if sung by a professional. I think she is very outgoing and is more expecting to meet men. People are taking this the wrong way.
I just hope she doesn't have any bad experiences but I think she is smart enough to protect herself from any nut jobs out there.
Thousands of couples meet online and get married each year including myself. It takes time and I wish her the best of luck. Don't stomp on someones elses dreams. Find something better to do with your time.
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Monday 09 August
By jroot
Sick. What has this society come to?
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Monday 09 August
By A COOK
I feel as if the girl has to do what the girl has to do, she wants to get married and she need to be honest with herself about what she is doing and to the men and she is. Its no differant then being on a dating site, so the lady that was overseas and said she is ugly and disperate, she is not.
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Monday 09 August
By islander
What a joke. !!!
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Monday 09 August
By Scott Pilgrim
You can marry me! I'm halfway decent look looking guy. I just turned 21 but I totally can dig more mature women. I'm very responsible for my age and graduating college around the time of your wedding so I'm going up on the market. I'm also a musician who sings and plays some mean guitar. That was some hot piano playing an I dig brunettes like alot. So if you dig younger dudes.. well you know. You can call me "McLovin" cause I'm McLoving every minute of it. LMAO. XOXOXOXOXOXO
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Monday 09 August
By phyllis
the worst thing you could say to a man, is that you want to marry, and soon. theyll run for the hills. in my lifetime, ive had 6 men who wanted to marry me. not once did i ever mention marriage. in fact, i wasnt even interested in it. was it that, which made me so desireable? you deceide.
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Monday 09 August
By Paul
Wish I were a little younger lol. Just being 'Sweet' doesn't always help.
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Monday 09 August
By poot
Quite definitely pathetic, but she's not alone, which is even more pathetic.
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Tuesday 10 August
By Lili
Dumb. She's an attention whore and if she's actually serious then very likely a sociopath. I enjoy the part where she says only 5% of her feedback is negative. Ha! Just judging by these comments, at least 95% is negative. Classic signs of a complete psycho, DENIAL! Wow, if any guy in his right mind falls for this bullshit then he's either a total loser or unbelievably stupid and not someone of substance who you'd want to marry anyway.
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Monday 09 August
By Jason
Personally, i couldn't imagine why anyone would resort to such measures. But its her life and she is free to steer it down what ever road she sees fit without judgment or ridicule from people who are allotted the same freedom. Calling a women a whore because you don't agree with her personal choices is a far worse offense then what this possibly misguided woman has done and is truly what gives a woman such as yourself a bad name. Try being a little more open minded; or just keep your opinion to yourself if your unable to refrain from vulgarity. Shame its takes a man to tell you such a thing.
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Monday 09 August
By tammy
gawd! what a idiot!
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