Archive for Tradition

Selecting the right wedding invitations and stationery is so important because that is what sets the tone for the wedding. You and your fiance should sit down and talk about both of your visions of the wedding and set a theme. If you haven’t already, then do so soon or at least before you start sending out the invitations. You will want the invitations to invoke the details of the wedding, which would include the theme and formality. When you purchase your invitations, you probably want to think about other stationery options like save-the-date cards, ceremony programs, and thank you cards. Lets take a look at all your options.

Save-The-Date Cards
Many engaged couples opt to send out save-the-date cards before the formal invitation to remind the guests of the upcoming nuptials. You send them out after you have the official date of the wedding but before the formal invitations are sent out. A save-the-date isn’t mandatory, but it is ideal for those who are planning a destination wedding. Be sure to send them at least 6 months before the wedding day or weekend.

Formal Invitations
After you’ve made the list, you can send out the formal invites about 6 to 8 weeks in advance. That should give invitees enough time to RSVP and let you know if they’ll be there. About three or two weeks before the big day, you should start to take the final count of how many people will attend.

Programs
Once you’ve got all the ceremony details, it’s time to start planning a program. The ceremony program usually outlines the important events in the order that will take place during the wedding. A proper program should include the full names of the couple, officiant, and wedding party.  Many couples also add song lyrics or hymns to give the program a personal touch, but it’s not mandatory.

Thank You Cards
You and your fiance will be showered with gifts, so it’s only fair to send thank you cards. Don’t wait until you receive all the gifts, instead send out a thank you card as each gift arrives-  send them within two weeks of receiving it. Don’t forget to take out the time to write a heartfelt message in the thank you card. Never send out a thank you card that lacks a personal, handwritten message from you or your fiance.

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Not every engaged couple is going to want fine china, crystal, and a new blender. Many  a couple these days don’t spend much time in the kitchen, and even less time actually cooking. Why make a list of gifts that will probably end up collecting dust in the pantry? If a gift registry is not your (nor your fiance’s) thing, then what options do you have? Aside from asking for money (not a bad idea once you know how to phrase it well), there are more creative options out there.

1. Ask Them to Chip in for Honeymoon Expenses
The whole wedding is pricey, and so is the honeymoon. Why not let them help pay for the romantic getaway of your dreams? With website like Buy Our Honeymoon, you easily can make a list of experiences, accommodations and more. Then your family and friends can select what they want to pay for, which saves you more money in the long run.

2. Have Them Donate to a Meaningful Charity
Perhaps you and your fiance are involved in a charity that means a lot to both of you. Why not politely ask guests to donate money to your preferred charity in your honor? This is truly a gift that keeps on giving, plus they can donate a little or a lot. The I Do Foundation is just one website specializing in charity registries.

3. Ask Them to Purchase the Big Picture
If what you really want is a new couch, who says that a new piece of furniture or maybe a new kitchen appliance doesn’t make a great gift? Now, since these are probably the most expensive and largest of gift idea, you might ask for everyone to pitch in together to purchase that big screen television or new china hutch.

4. Money Is Always Welcome
If you really need financial assistance or just would like to start a saving account, then make sure the word gets out that you would like financial gifts.  One method includes mentioning this on your wedding website, but word of mouth is always best!

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The best man in a wedding is generally the brother of the groom. If the groom does not have a brother or stepbrother, then he may choose either a close friend of his or the brother of the bride, if she has one and if the two men are close.

It is the job of the best man to be the groom’s right hand man. He is the person who takes care of the groom’s needs and must be a responsible individual who is good at organizing. The role of best man is one that must be taken seriously.

It is the best man who throws the bachelor party for the groom. He can accept input and help from other people involved, but the crux of the responsibility falls on his shoulders. The best man must buy or rent his own tuxedo and shoes for the wedding, and in most cases he must pay for his own travel and accommodations if he is coming from afar.

He also is expected to act as a guide or leader for the groomsmen in making sure that everything to do with the tuxedo fittings goes as smoothly as possible, including making sure each one knows the date, time and place.

If the groomsmen are acting as ushers in the wedding, then the best man needs to be able to organize the gentlemen and coach them on their jobs where he sees fit. The best man and maid of honor traditionally are supposed to work together in organizing any special dinners being held for the bride and groom and/or the wedding party. It is their task to decide on a location and a date and time, as well as any extras that are needed for the occasion. The best man and maid of honor typically pay for the meals of the bride and groom while each member of the wedding party pays for his/her own meal.

In some weddings the best man escorts the maid of honor down the aisle. It is also the best man who gives a speech at the reception and makes a toast to the newlyweds. Of course, the most important job of the best man’s is to be a friend and confidant to the groom!

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Have you ever heard the saying, “What’s old is new”?  This saying is definitely resonating in the minds of today’s engaged couples, and vintage is in full swing. Maybe you want to give a nod to your parents’ era when tying the knot, or maybe you just love the style of a particular era. Whatever your inspiration may be, adding that vintage touch will indeed make the big day unique and memorable. Here are some ideas on how to add a little old-fashioned style to your wedding.

1- Instead of buying a brand new wedding gown, why not wear a vintage wedding gown, or a vintage white dress? Some vintage boutiques specialize in wedding gowns, try to find one in your city. You also could have the groom and/or groomsmen don vintage suits.

2- Walk down the aisle to an older love song that has significant meaning. If you don’t have a talented (and close) friend to play the piano, make sure that you hire a professional musician or group to perform the song during the ceremony or perhaps reception.

3- Go with vintage décor. Scour the flea markets or perhaps ask one of your mothers if she has any vintage item that she could loan on your wedding day. As a bonus, using a vintage heirloom not only will add something special, it also will save extra money.

4- Ride in style, and rent a vintage convertible or other car for the big day. Caution, it might be a bit costly, so check to see if you can rent a fairly new automobile that looks vintage.

5- Another fabulous and affordable option that your parents probably will love is to use your great-grandparents’ (or perhaps even grandparents’) wedding bands or engagement rings in your upcoming nuptials.

6- Take a few cues from the more romantic Victorian era with lots of elegant lace details and décor. Or perhaps you could have all the invitations and coordinating wedding stationary designed by a good calligrapher.

When it comes to weddings, the possibilities are endless.

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It is no secret that celebrities influence everything we do from what we wear to where we shop. So, it should come as no surprise that we sometimes take trends or ideas from celebrity nuptials to incorporate in out own weddings. Some of the ideas are clever, some are a bit pricey, and others are original, but each idea can be copied if you add your own personal touch. Whether the event you’re planning is big or small, traditional or modern, here are some ideas you can borrow from celebrities.

Expensive as it may seems, some famous brides (like Melania Knauss when she wed Donald Trump) wear two wedding gowns- one for the ceremony and one for the reception.

Why wear white? Some celeb brides go for a non-traditional route and choose a gown in another color, like Sarah Jessica Parker’s glamorous black gown.

If you’ve got the extra cash and time, plan a private wedding ceremony with your loved ones, and a few weeks later throw a reception party.  It is a good option for those who want a private ceremony and later a large reception party. Celebrities who chose this route are Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, as did Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Majandra Delfino and Devon Gummersall made their wedding guests feel special by writing out little personalized notes for each guest on pieces of pretty stationery.

What do Billy Martin (guitarist from Good Charlotte), Travis Barker (from Blink 182), and Avril Lavigne all have in common? Besides being rock stars, they each incorporated gothic style in their wedding plans.

If you have a beloved pooch, then why not have him (or her) substitute as a ring bearer like Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson did.

If you love your hair and don’t like the idea of covering it up with a veil, do what some celebrity brides do and shun veils altogether, like Tori Spelling and Rebecca Romjin. Or why not wear a few flowers in your hair like Jenna Bush did when she married Henry Hagler?

Which celebrity wedding was your favorite?

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I often wondered why it is that the maid of honor and the bridesmaids must all look as similar as possible in a wedding party. Why the same color and style of dress? Yes, it looks uniform, classic and has a nice flow to it, but it also leaves out that element of individuality.

I, on the other hand think a bit of diversity and being able to inject one’s own personality into the wedding look is desirable. That is why I was delighted to see that when Carrie Bradshaw was to marry Mr. Big in the Sex and the City movie, all of the girls looked lovely in their long dresses- that were neither the same style nor the same color!

Samantha looked fantastic in her red gown while Miranda’s blue gown suited her to a tee. Charlotte was most becoming in her elegant black gown. And of course, Carrie wore white. White for a bride is still my chosen color as certain traditions are best upheld.

We are creating new wedding rules for the millennium that show a degree of flexibility. Some rules remain in place, but others are being bent somewhat. What else is happening in the wedding world?

Rituals are undergoing some gender bending, even as you read this. Do you prefer a man of honor to a maid of honor? Or how about a best woman instead of a best man? Sure, why not! If you are a bride whose best friend is a man or a man whose best friend is a woman, then many couples decide to incorporate that element into their wedding. It makes sense if that is the reality of your life.

While it has been common for some time now for some brides to choose to keep their maiden names or to hyphenate the two names, a new trend to emerge when it comes to the name game is to blend the two last names together in order to come up with a new name! According to a recent poll conducted by WeddingChannel.com, 15 percent of brides-to-be said that the concept of a blended name appeals to them.

There are plenty of twists on traditional wedding rules that are happening all of the time.  For example, if you have no father or grandfather, you might opt for a female family member to walk you down the aisle.

What new wedding rules can you think of?

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These days almost anything goes (almost) when it comes to taste, style, and traditions.  What used to be mandatory when your parents got married has now become optional.  Reasons to forgo familiar traditions include monetary issues, cultural clashing, and even personal reasons.  However, if you do find something on the list that you absolutely must do, go ahead. But if not, then feel free to skip traditions that don’t appeal to you.  Here are such traditions.

Over The Top Receptions
These days the economy is tightening everyone’s budget, and thus modern brides and grooms opt for cheaper and chic alternatives. Ideas include skipping a large meal and replacing it with a cocktail party; staying in the United States for the honeymoon instead of jetting off to the Caribbean; buying cheaper (and more eco-friendly) wedding stationary. These days, less is more.

Rigid Rules
Sure, weddings are still formal, but that doesn’t mean you need to abide by certain rules if they cramp your style. Your bridesmaids don’t need to wear the same dress, they can wear dresses in the same color family. You also can ditch the arranged seating, which would not only relieve stress on your part, but it also leaves a more friendly experience for your guests.

Unnecessarily Wasteful Traditions
Want to know a little secret that saves time, money, and even the environment? Forgo useless items and replace them with something smarter like skipping the throwing  rice tradition and light sparklers.  And those tacky little wedding favors (something that often gets left behind or thrown away) can be replaced with acknowledging each guest at the reception. And even if you can’t, your guests will leave the wedding with memories, which is what really counts.

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A wedding is a huge celebration, and with all the months planning of  the fine details and the guest lists, it is a good idea to take some time out and celebrate with a mini-party. Traditional weddings often have a plethora of get-togethers from the engagement party to rehearsal dinner. Find out more about these parties and how to celebrate them (if you want).

Engagement Party- For most parents, finding out that their daughter is engaged is a call for celebration, and thus the engagement party was born. These days, though, the engaged couple can throw their own engagement party. Often these are small get-togethers, but this party can be as big as you’d like. Remember it is wise to only invite the people you plan on inviting to the actual wedding. It also would be a good idea to register for gifts ahead of time, even before the engagement party.

Bridal Shower- This is a party that the bridesmaids plan for the bride. The party usually consists of a meal, games and entertainment, and, of course, gifts. Bridal showers can be traditional, themed, or even coed (invite the groom and his friends). There are generally not a lot of rules when it comes to planning the party, but it would be a good idea to have a bridesmaid keep a record of the gifts received at the shower to make it easier to write thank you notes to the gift givers.

Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties- Like the bridal shower, this party has evolved throughout the decades. What used to be the one last night for a groom to go out and party with his friends, has now evolved to a coed celebration for men and women -party ideas can include almost anything from bowling to even rock-climbing expeditions.

Rehearsal Dinner- This party is traditionally thrown by the groom’s family and is often on the night before the wedding. While it’s usually held as an actual rehearsal for the big day, this party is usually a fancy fete and includes lots of toasts for the bride and groom.

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There are many customs inherent in a traditional Italian wedding. All Italian weddings were held in churches, but none could take place during the period of Lent or Advent. In the same way, there were no Italian weddings held in May because that is the month when the worship of the Virgin Mary always took precedence. August is considered a bad luck month to get married for Italians because it is said to bring misfortune and the prospect of illness. Every other month is considered permissible for an Italian wedding to be held in. In the Italian tradition, the great majority of weddings were held on Sunday because it was viewed as a favorable day for nuptials.

When the happy day arrived, a large bowed ribbon was draped carefully across the top of the doorway of the church. This served to let passersby know that a wedding was about to commence. It is interesting to note that while most Italian brides choose to wear a white wedding dress today, in days past the color green was worn instead as it was symbolic of fertility and, therefore, was believed to bring good fortune to the soon-to-be-wed couple.

When an Italian groom gets married he always has a piece of iron in the pocket of his suit. The iron was believed to ward off the evil eye during the wedding ceremony. If there were any jealousy or envious feelings in the church during the wedding ceremony, then it was believed that this could disrupt his happiness. The iron was supposed to counteract that.

Most modern brides would be very upset at the prospect of their veils getting torn during the wedding ceremony or at the reception. This was not the case for an Italian bride. In fact in the Italian tradition, tearing the bridal veil is considered to bring good luck to the happy couple!

As a traditional Italian wedding comes to a close, the couple was provided a vase or wine glass to break. Once this was done, the broken pieces were then gathered up and counted. It was thought that however many pieces were there represented the anticipated number of years that the couple would be happily married.

In Italy, confetti is viewed as a sign of good fortune for future happiness. That is why guests at an Italian wedding always threw either paper confetti or rice at the newlyweds as they left the church.

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