For those who choose to dance to the beat of a different drummer, weddings today are as unique and creative as the couples who are marrying. The options are as varied as their personalities. So for those who want to put a spin on tradition, you are only limited by your imagination. So if the traditional just seems downright boring, think about a non-traditional or themed wedding or venue.
Consider the ceremony on a beach and then celebrate with a traditional New England style clambake, or in a barn with a square-dance reception. There are Art Deco or Black and White Weddings, where everything from the invitations to the decorations are in black or white or both.
You can choose a nautical theme, where the wedding takes place on a yacht, boat or beach with signal flags spelling your names, and wearing a straw boater hat instead of a veil. Of course, the guys in blazers, seashell centerpieces and a scrumptious seafood buffet.
For a Mardi Gras wedding, a jazz band is a must, as well as gumbo, spicy jambalaya, crawfish and an oyster bar. Don’t forget those Hurricane drinks, and after the ceremony, toss some of beads and carnival trinkets instead of the traditional birdseed or bubbles. Later in the evening, pass out exotic masks with feathers and glitter to dance the night away.
For a more tropical feel, put on a traditional luau complete with pu pu platters and mai tais drinks. Surround the area with tiki torches, orchids, flowering ginger and palm fronds. Don’t forget the flower leis for the bridal party and/or guests.
The Provencal or Viennese wedding would consist of French bread and cheese, bouillabaisse, red and white wines, dancing to waltzes and ball gowns and white tie. Finish off the evening by serving caviar, elaborate desserts and the much-awaited departure in a horse-drawn carriage.
Besides some of the ideas outlined above, you might consider a seasonal or holiday wedding, a Victorian celebration or even a mystery wedding, where the guests are invited to a party, but aren’t informed it’s a wedding till they are at the ceremony. Then, they are given clues as to how to the find the reception. Also, the groomsmen are wearing trench coats and dark glasses.
Other possible sites to consider when planning something different: A Marina or shipyard, Art Gallery, Museum, Airplane Hanger, College Campus, Pier, Amusement Park, Train Station, School Gymnasium or Classroom, Winery, Indoor Greenhouse, Public Park, Skating Rink, Racetrack, Barn, Warehouse, Department Store (after hours), Office Building Lobby or Atrium, Theatre or Movie Theater.
For other, non-traditional locations and/or venues, always consult your professional wedding coordinator, who besides helping you plan the perfect themed wedding, can help handle and eliminate any extra challenges staging a wedding and/or reception at any out-of-the-ordinary location or venue can present.
It’s been a busy time of year for engagements – between the holidays, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day, engagements hit a high every year. Now that you’ve said YES, what do you do first in planing your upcoming wedding? The task list can be daunting, so taking it one step at a time is important. Here are a few tips to get you started on your walk down the aisle:
Pick a Date and Venue. If possible, be a little flexible on your wedding date. If you have your heart set on a venue, you have to go with what they have available. If you have a specific date you want to get married on, you’ll need to be open to exploring different venues. The sooner you get your venue and date nailed down, the sooner you can start planning your wedding day.
Choose a Photographer: Photographers can book out up to a year in advance, so this is an important vendor to hire early in the planning process. It’s important that you not only like the photographer’s work and pricing, but that you meet the photographer in person to see what kind of chemistry you and your fiance have with this person. Why is this important? Your wedding photographer will be capturing intimate moments for photos that you will keep for the rest of your life. The more comfortable you feel as a couple with this person, the more natural and beautiful your photos will turn out.
Shop for a Wedding Dress: Wedding dresses can take up to six months to arrive once ordered, so it’s important to give yourself plenty of time for the dress to arrive and for alterations to be done. Take into consideration the time of year you’re getting married, and the venue, in order to help you choose the general look you’re going for.
There is so much more to planning your wedding, but getting started with these three tasks will get you on your way!
The most important thing to remember during this whole process is that your wedding day is a celebration of you as a couple, and about the two of you promising yourselves to each other. If you plan with that in mind, you’re day will be just what you want it to be.
I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to Valentine’s Day than one of my favorite love poems by E.E. Cummings. Here’s to a day full of love like this..
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
not fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Wedding Cake by Sugar Sugar Cake Studio
As the times change, so does the name, but the details remain the same. Whatever you choose to call it, hosting a dinner on the night before the wedding is still a tradition that never goes out of style. As more and more couples decide to make their wedding more of a “weekend affair” than just one day, the rehearsal or pre-nuptial dinner has gown in size. No longer is it just for the wedding party and close family. Many couples have out-of-town guests and family visiting for their wedding, and they are choosing to include them at the dinner. Because of this, the “normal” size for the party has grown from approximately 10 to 15 people to sometimes over 100. Make sure to check with all the players involved to ensure that no one is accidentally left off the guest list. Usually the bride’s family submits a guest list to the groom’s family.
Many couples choose to send invitations for the rehearsal dinner. It should be less formal than the wedding invitation, but you can do as you please. You can include them with the wedding invitation or send them separately. Some couples chose to invite guests via the telephone or with today’s technology, via e-mail. There are many companies that offer some wonderful informal invitations that can go with your wedding theme or different kinds of invitations to suit your style. Check with you wedding consultant for a list of great ideas.
Customarily, the dinner is hosted and paid for by the Groom’s parents, but depending on the circumstances, it can be hosted by any family member or close friend of the couple. Originally held to make enough noise to scare away evil spirits prior to the wedding, it now represents a time for the couple, immediate family members, attendants, ushers and their spouses, clergyman, and any out-of-town guests to get together for an intimate gathering and celebration. It gives friends and family a time to relax and get to know one another, many meeting for the first time.
Take the opportunity either at the beginning or during the meal to introduce the families. Add a little personal comment or story to the introduction to make them more personable. It’s also a good time to toast the Bride and Groom and thank the bride’s family (who have traditionally shouldered the rest of the wedding cost). If the Bride and Groom are planning to give their attendants gifts, it’s a perfect time and place to present them. Rehearsal Dinners are also a good time to go over any last minute details or instructions before the wedding and to remind everyone about the flow of events on wedding day. Most of all, take time to have fun during the party. Share stories about the Bride and Groom and offer toasts from both families welcoming them and to the guests, thanking them for coming.
Here in Arizona, there are plenty of options to create the Rehearsal Dinner that is appropriate for you. It can range anywhere from a theme type dinner to a traditional dinner at a fine restaurant. What best suits your style and budget is the best way to go. Also, you’ll want to choose a place that is not too far from where the rehearsal was held. A good rule of thumb is usually no further than a 20 to 30 minute drive by car. Whatever you decide to do, make it enjoyable for your guests.
Once you have your location, your wedding consultant can help you choose the flow of events. Everything from what to serve, the entertainment, decorations or any other details to make your event truly a memorable occasion.
I’ve had so much fun sharing the Wedding Traditions series! As a final entry today, we’re going to look at Kisses, Cakes, and Honeymoons. I can just feel the love.
Why does the ceremony end with a kiss?
From the early centuries, a kiss was a legal bond that sealed contracts, and thus, the betrothal. Early Christianity incorporated the betrothal ceremony into the marriage ritual. It was also believed that when a couple kissed, part of each of their souls was left behind in the other when their breath was exchanged. So, occurring at the end of the marriage ceremony, the kiss announces a new status.
Why is there a wedding cake?
The wedding cake has been a part of the marriage celebration since Roman times symbolizing good luck and fertility. A small bun would be broken over the head of the bride at the close of the ceremony, and since wheat was the symbol of fertility, the crumbs would be sought out as good-luck charms. During medieval times, customs required the bride and groom to kiss over a pile of small cakes brought by the wedding guests. Then, in Elizabethan times, bridesmaids baked small, sweet buns with currants, the centerpiece for the wedding feast. It wasn’t until the 17th century that a French baker frosted a stack of buns so they would stand upright, creating the first frosted tiered wedding cake. But, it was the Chinese who originated the custom of serving each guest a slice of the cake to spread good luck.
What is a groom’s cake?
Originally, the groom’s cake was a rich, solid fruitcake topped with marzipan and white icing, but today, it is usually a cake make out of the groom’s favorite flavor. According to custom, it is either served at the reception along with the wedding cake or packed in small boxes for guests to take home – a way to share in the couple’s good fortune and the sweetness of married life. It is believed that a single guest who puts a sliver of the groom’s cake under his or her pillow that night will dream of their future spouse.
Why do newlyweds go on a honeymoon?
In ancient times, when there were marriages by capture, the groom kept his bride in hiding for a month to prevent searching relatives from finding her. The term honeymoon has its origin in early Teuton customs: Couples would drink from a fermented honey drink known as mead, or “metheglin” for 30 days after their wedding or until the moon waned. As an intoxicant, it was believed to have eased sexual inhibitions. Honey is also an ancient symbol of life, health, and fertility; the couple’s “month of sweetness” was a time alone – a month of happiness (and, they hoped, fertility) before taking up the everyday responsibilities of marriage.
There are still many other century old customs and traditions practiced today. Working with a professional wedding consultant will ensure that any customs or traditions you wish to incorporate into your wedding will be.
We’re finishing out our Wedding Traditions series this week, and today talking about The Bridal Party…
Why is it traditional to have bridesmaids and ushers?
In early times, it was marriage by capture. The groom’s friends helped him kidnap his bride and defended him against anyone who might try to rescue her – including her family. The best man and ushers represent the warriors. At the wedding ceremony, the groom always stood on the bride’s right side, leaving his right hand, his sword hand, free to defend her.
Also, it was customary for the bride to travel to the groom’s village accompanied by escorts, her “bridesmaids,” who would defend her and her dowry against rival suitors and robbers. In England, the bride would be escorted by married men or, “bridegroom men”, on the way home.
Why do wedding attendants all dress alike?
In Ancient Rome, ten witnesses were required to make a wedding legal. To confuse evil spirits that lurked at the Alter, several witnesses dressed exactly like the bride and groom. In Europe, the bride and groom and their friends would walk together to church. Afraid that someone would spot the happy couple and put a curse on them, the groom would have his friends wear clothes almost identical to his and the women wore costumes like the bride in an attempt to trick any evil wishers.
Stay tuned this Thursday for the final post in our Wedding Tradtions series – kisses, cakes, and honeymoons!
In Part Two of our Wedding Traditions Series, we’re going to look at some favorites of just about every bride….the DRESS, veil, and bridal bouquet. Plus, we’ll look at the tradition of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue…
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Lane
Why does the Bride wear white?
Since the Roman era, white has been the color of choice and a symbol of celebration. The color has had different meanings over the centuries including affluence during the Victorian era and then at the beginning of the 20th century, it represented purity. Today, the color symbolizes joy and happiness and even women remarrying chose to wear some shade of white or ivory.
Does this mean, as a bride, you have to wear white? Of course not, but about 99% of the brides we come across can’t wait to find that perfect white or ivory bridal gown for their special day. Unless you’re a movie star who walks the red carpet, your wedding day is often that one opportunity to wear a white dress like this.
Why does the Bride wear a veil?
Veils were first worn to help the bride remain modest and hide her from jealous spirits. It also represented the bride’s youth and virginity. Even today, in most Muslim, Middle Eastern, African and some Eastern European countries, the women must conform to religious constraints and conduct the entire courtship being veiled. The men are not permitted to see their bride’s face until after the wedding. Centuries ago, veils were red and were worn to the protect the bride from the devil and “evil eye.” Sometimes the veils were blue (meaning “constancy”), or even yellow (the classic color of the God of Marriage, Hymen). Early Christian brides wore white to symbolize purity and celebration. It was actually Martha Washington’s granddaughter who is said to have started the custom of wearing a white-lace veil. It was on her wedding day that her fiancé complimented her as she stood behind a lace window curtain.
Why does the bride carry flowers?
For centuries flowers have represented a variety of emotions and merits – roses, love; lilies, virtue; and so on. Early Roman brides carried bouquets of herbs under their veils to symbolize fidelity and fertility, and to ward off evil. Greeks used ivy as a sign of indissoluble love. Orange blossoms were chosen by the ancient Saracens to represent fulfillment and happiness. Today, wedding blooms convey a message of fertility, enduring love and bounty.
Why does the bride wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?
Throughout the decades, brides have taken care to include these touches in her bridal outfit, a nod to tradition and superstition. Based on the old English rhyme, “something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe,” this symbolizes continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity and good fortune.
…Next week: All about Bridesmaids and Groomsmen…The Bridal Party!
We can’t wait to go to the Grand Opening Party of the NEW LOCATION for Destiny’s Bride in Old Town Scottsdale this Sunday – hope to see everyone there!!!
Even in today’s high tech, fast-paced world, there are still some things rooted in tradition – like weddings. Couples today still observe century old practices, updating them to reflect their personality and style.
This week we’re going to take a take a look at these traditions, most of which have been around for many years, in order to help our brides and grooms understand the meaning behind those traditions and where they came from.
Why a wedding ring?
Wedding rings are circular to symbolize never-ending love, and were first worn to protect the bride from evil spirits. Originally, the rings were made out of rushes, hemp, or braided grass. Then, the Romans used more durable iron to symbolize the permanent bond of marriage. In ancient Egypt, gold rings were used as money as a symbol of the groom’s wealth and his intention to wed. Gold has always been a popular choice, but expensive. It symbolizes lasting beauty, purity and strength. The Egyptian husband placed a gold ring on the third finger of his bride’s left hand to show that he trusted her with his money. The engagement ring came around the 13th century when Pope Innocent III declared that a waiting period was to be observed between betrothal and marriage and this lead to the separate engagement and wedding rings. The diamond engagement ring was first recorded in 1477, when Maximilian I, King of Germany, offered it to Mary of Burgandy to seal his vow.
Why the third finger of the left hand?
Centuries ago, people believed that the vein of the third finger of the left hand ran directly to the heart. During medieval times, grooms would place sequentially the wedding ring on three of the bride’s fingers to symbolize the trinity – first on the bride’s thumb (“in the name of the Father”), then on the index finger (“and the Son”), then on the middle finger (“and the Holy Ghost”) before sliding the ring onto the third ring finger, saying “Amen”, where the ring remained throughout the marriage. The tradition has remained until today and is the custom for most of all English speaking countries. In Europe, the wedding ring is usually worn on the right hand, and Greek women will wear the ring on her left hand while she is engaged and than move it to her right hand when she is married.
…Stay tuned for the next topic of our Wedding Traditions series coming this Thursday: The Bride’s Attire….
