Wedding Trends
Something Old, Something New
"Something Old,
Something New" indicates the passage of an old life to a new
one?
"Something
Borrowed," shows there is community participation and approval?
Everyone always wants to be a part of a ceremony and life of a
new couple and is always willing to lend something.
"Something
Blue," comes from a Jewish tradition where a blue ribbon was
worn by the bride at Jewish ceremonies which represented purity,
love and fidelity.
The meaning of
white was the color of joy? White is the color of transition and
the color of hope to the Chinese. For some, the color white
denotes virginity. Wedding dresses have not always been white,
Victorians began this custom. You were rich if you were able to
wear white for one day and one day only.
The meaning of
Trousseau is little bundle, and it was the little bundle the
bride took to the groom. This contained the clothes and linens
she would use during their marriage. The Hope Chest was a small
wooden chest that contained embroidered nightgowns, needlepoint
and linens that would be used in the new household. This hope
chest was filled with all of a young woman's hopes that she
would marry some day. It was also a form a dowry to be taken
from her family to a new home.
It's been said
that the wedding ring signified an eternal union in the
symbolism of an unending circle? The circle represents eternity,
constancy and integrity of love. In ancient times a ring was a
sign of a pledge and a token of fidelity. Originally, the ring
was symbolic of the binding/uniting of a woman to a man, much
like tying a rope around the waist or ankles, around the neck of
the bride and groom in a figure eight as a Philippine
traditions. The engagement ring has also stood for a
pledge/promise to be fulfilled. Diamonds are used in
wedding/engagement rings, their hardness represents undying
love. Placing the ring on the third finger of the left hand has
special significance since the XX of the Greeks. They thought
there was a special vein connecting that finger to the heart.
The kiss in
ancient Rome, meant a legal bond. After a ceremony a kiss meant
the union was sealed. It also means the transference of power
and souls between two people.
Throwing of rice at the bride
and groom as they leave the church/reception is a symbol of
fertility. The Greeks threw grain and fruit, the Hebrews threw
cake, and the early Americans threw flower pedals. Today we
blow bubbles since birdseed can make birds sick.
Favors are good
luck? This is an old tradition that has been based on
superstition. Because the bride and groom were considered to be
good luck, the wedding guest would often tear a small piece of
lace from the bride's dress or take some flower from the bride's
bouquet as a good luck piece.
The
Scandinavian word for moon means month? Wedding couples
traditionally went off for a month to be alone. They drank a
special prepared wine made of honey, so it became honeymoon.
In Roman times,
the bride was carried over the threshold, if the groom stumbled,
bad luck would follow. Thresholds were then believed to be
filled with evil spirits.
Wedding Superstitions
|
The Good |
|
The Bad |
| It's good
luck for the groom not to see the wedding dress
before the wedding day. It will bring more luck if he does
not even glance at the dress as the bride walks down the
aisle. If the last stitch of the dress is made the day of
the wedding it will bring nothing but good luck upon the
marriage. If a
cat sneezes the day before a wedding, the marriage
will be a long and happy one. And the bride should feed
the family cat on her wedding day, this is thought to
bring lasting marital happiness.
To have a matron of
honor is considered favorable since she represents the
benefits of married life.
It is considered a
good omen when passing a policeman, clergyman, doctor,
lawyer or a blind man on the way to the church. It
is also an old good luck tradition for the groom to give a
gift or coin to the first person he meets on his way to
the church.
Tears from the
bride or from a child during the service will bring good
luck. Tears during any other time are considered bad luck
since it is a sign the bride will cry throughout the
marriage.
If the weather
is with the sun shining, or snow falling on the bride, it
will bring good luck. If there is mist will bring good
fortune. And rain is considered bad luck.
In Victorian days it
was thought seeing a chimney sweep on the return from the
church would bring good luck.
A brides last look in
a mirror before the ceremony is good luck, returning to
the mirror after her journey will result in bad luck. |
|
Once a
wedding date is set, it is bad luck to change it.
Weddings conducted
after dark are considered to be unlucky.
It's very bad luck if
the groom or best man were to drop the rings.
It's considered bad
luck if the bride takes part it making her own wedding
cake.
It is said that a
bridesmaid who trips while traveling down the aisle will
always be a spinster. The only way to escape this is to
catch a bride's bouquet in the future.
Although a majority of
weddings take place on a Saturday, in the past, getting
married on a Saturday was considered to be unlucky.
To marry in the month
of May was considered very unlucky. In Pagan times the
start of summer was when the festival of Beltane was
celebrated with outdoor orgies, which was an unsuitable
time to start married life. In Roman times it was the
"Feast of the Dead" and a festival of the goddess of
chastity. |
Wedding Cake Made
Out Of Krispy Kremes
Seattle Couple Serves Guests Doughnut Cake
Krispy Kreme doughnut lovers served up a doughnut wedding
cake to help celebrate their special day.
Anna Pugh and Todd Larsen from Seattle, Wash., served guests Krispy Kreme
wedding cake.
Four Seasons Olympic Pastry Chef Artis Kalsons created a six-foot-high
wedding cake made from 250 Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Artis used handmade pulled and spun sugar to hold the cake together and
blown sugar to create colorful decorative touches.
Wedding Insurance
Weddings, though a one-time cost,
can be a huge investment. So what happens when the reception hall closes down
and runs with your deposit? What if the weather or injury necessitates a
postponement? For some couples, wedding insurance might be the answer. TOM AND TIA Campobianco planned their June wedding
party at a quaint Cape Cod inn, the perfect setting.
“It was beautiful, it’s right on the ocean,” says Tina.
But then came bad news.
“We found out that the place no longer existed from our friends in the
area,” says Tom.
They called, e-mailed, and went back to find the owners of the inn, but
in the end they couldn’t get back their $5,000 deposit.
“The person that we had been dealing with the entire time was gone with
our money,” says Tia. “We were very frustrated.”
But Tom and Tia were prepared as well. Faced with
spiraling expenses and fluid plans, they purchased wedding insurance.
“Tom went and got the insurance, and thank God he did because it was a
lot of money that we were going to lose,” says Tia.
Weddings cost Americans $32 billion a year. Costs range from $12,000 in
Birmingham all the way to $33,000 in New York City, and the Better Business
Bureau says consumer complaints pour in from newlyweds in cities all across the
country. There were about 20,000 such complaints just last year. Among the
complaints are photographers who lose their film, cakes that collapse and
dresses that don’t get delivered, according to New York Better Business Bureau
president Ronna Brown.
“Unfortunately, it’s really typical that one of the most common
complaints about wedding-related services is the business you’re dealing with
disappears,” says Brown.
But the BBB also advises that wedding insurance isn’t for everybody. For
instance, if a couple’s plans are such that there is some flexibility or if they
are spending a modest amount of money, wedding insurance might not be
appropriate. “If you are going to have a
small simple wedding, it may well not be worth it to spend several hundred
dollars on wedding insurance,” says Brown.
She advises that couples should also make an honest evaluation of their
tolerance for risk.
“If you decided that you can’t bear to lose any money, then maybe wedding
insurance is a good idea for you,” says Brown.
However, just like with any other service you are planning to pay for, do
your homework. Check out the insurance company in the same way you would
investigate any other vender for your wedding.
“Make sure the company is licensed by the state insurance department or
check with consumer protection agencies to see if there are any other complaints
against the company,” says Brown.
For Tom and Tia, wedding insurance saved them money and saved the day.
Wedding Tips
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To save time. Get a beautician
to do your and your brides maids hair and nails at your home.
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Relax!
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Here's one for the Groom. Ask
your Best man to be somber on your day, especially if you were
somber on his. If you happen to forget something, or something
goes slightly wrong, (It's inevitable!), he'll be there for the
rescue. And it works.
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Don't forget to eat at the
reception.
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Have a good time.
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Have each of your guests pick a
song for the DJ to play. This way everyone will get up and dance
to the music. Give the DJ restrictions on what songs you do or
don not want to hear.
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Prepare your gratuities in
advance so you can enjoy your evening.
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Bring a pair of slippers or
wedding sneakers.
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Make arrangements with a
trusted friend to gather all your gifts.
