November 30th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Last Day of Ceremony Tips
Image from the knot {photograph by Jen Davis}
Because today is the last day of ceremony tips and tomorrow begins a new theme, I wanted to leave you with what I believe is the most important tip when it comes to the ceremony: Be present. You’ve probably been planning this day for months or years and your wedding day may seem to fly by, so you have to remain in the moment at all times. During the ceremony, focus on what is being said and what you’re saying to your partner. Don’t let your mind drift, think about the groomsmen’s crooked bowtie or the candle that blew out – you only get one shot, so focus on what’s important.
November 29th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Asian and Indian Traditions for the Ceremony
Image from the knot {photograph by A Beautiful Day Photography}
Tea Ceremonies: The bride and groom kneel before older family members and offer them tea as a sign of respect. The older family members usually give the couple an envelope filled with gold jewelry or money.
Sharing Sake: In Buddhist, Shinto and Christian Japanese weddings, the bride and groom followed by their parents drink three sips of sake from three sake cups.
Henna: A common practice in India and the Middle East is to adorn the bride’s hands and feet with henna.
November 28th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Spanish and Mexican Traditions for the Ceremony
Image from the knot {photograph by Amy Theilig Photography}
Wrapping the Couple: Both sets of parents wrap the couple in a mantilla as a symbol of unification of the families. The mothers fold up the mantilla together.
The Lasso: A figure eight of rosary beads, orange blossoms or white ribbons are draped over the couples shoulders.
Thirteen Gold Coins: A godparent holds a dish of coins which the groom takes and drops into the bride’s hands to show he trusts her and is committed to providing for her. The priest blesses the coins.
November 27th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Celtic Traditions for Ceremony
Image from the knot {photograph by Julie Lamont Photography}
Tartan Sharing: To show that the bride is part of the family at the end of Scottish weddings, the groom takes his tartan sash bearing his family’s pattern off and puts it over the bride from shoulder to hip.
Handfasting: This Celtic tradition happens when the couple’s hands are crossed and tied together with a cord. Then the cord is tied into a knot.
November 25th, 2009
Tip of the Day – African American Traditions for the Ceremony
Image from the knot {photograph by Danielle Bordelon}
Jumping the Broom: This tradition started during slavery when Africa Americans were denied the right to get married. At the end of the ceremony, the couple jumps over a decorated broom to signify the leap their making in their new life together.
Crossing Sticks: During a prayer the bride and groom cross two branches to symbolize a rooted family and a grounded marriage. Many times the branches will come from a special place such as the bride and groom’s homes.
Tasting the Four Elements: This tradition symbolizes the different stages of marriage and the journey through both good and bad times. The couple tastes lemon to represent sour, vinegar to represent bitter, cayenne to represent hot and honey to represent sweet.
Sharing a Kola Nut: This is a symbol of healing and at Nigerian weddings, the couple and their parents share one to end the ceremony.
November 24th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Jewish Traditions for the Ceremony
Image from the knot {photograph by Christian Oth Photography}
Breaking the Glass: Traditionally the groom stomps on the glass; however, some modern couples are doing it together. Make sure you wrap the glass in cloth to prevent injuries and don’t use cheap glass – because it’s harder to break.
Chuppah: This is a structure that the bride and groom stand under during the ceremony. It’s a canopy attached to four poles and open on all four sides.
Walk Down the Aisle: Both parents escort the bride and groom to the chuppah to symbolize the union of families.
Yichud: This is a 15 minute period of seclusion after the ceremony {traditionally, to consummate the marriage} used for couples to share their first meal as husband and wife or to spend a few moments together.
November 23rd, 2009
Tip of the Day – Lucky Bride
Image from the knot {photograph by Victoria Souza Photography}
Every bride wants to have rich, full life with her husband filled with joy and happiness. Many brides participate in traditions so they are lucky on their wedding day. Here are some of those traditions:
1. Wear a sixpence in your shoe. Traditionally, English brides wore a silver sixpence in their left shoe and Swedish brides wore a silver coin from their fathers in their left shoe and a gold coin from their mothers in their right shoe.
2. Carry or wear a horseshoe. Attach a horseshoe charm to your bouquet or wear a horseshoe charm on a necklace or bracelet. Irish brides do this, because they believe it will bring luck to the marriage.
3. Wear an eye charm. In many Greek weddings, the bride, the bridal party and the guests wear blue beads shaped like eyeballs to ward off evil spirits.
4. Carry a lump of sugar. Want a sweet life? Follow in the footsteps of Greek brides who slip a cube of sugar in their gloves.
5. Decorate your venue with 1,001 cranes. According to Japanese tradition, if you have 1,001 white paper cranes at your wedding, you’ll have good luck more than 1,000 times over.
November 22nd, 2009
Tip of the Day – Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
Image from Martha Stewart Weddings
Many brides continue the tradition of having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue with them on their wedding day. Get creative when you’re trying to decide what will fit into these categories – make it personal. Here are five ideas for each category:
Something Old: your grandmother’s pearls {or other type of jewelry}, an antique brooch that you pin to your bouquet or underneath your dress, family Bible, handkerchief, veil
Something New {this category is pretty easy}: your wedding dress, your shoes, veil, wedding band, a wedding present from your very-soon-to-be husband such as jewelry
Something Borrowed: your mother’s diamond earrings {or other jewelry}, your maid of honor’s pumps, a family wedding dress, your grandmother’s birdcage veil, your mom’s wrap or shawl
Something Blue: toe nail polish, jewelry, ribbon on your bouquet, heels, handkerchief
November 21st, 2009
Tip of the Day – Unattended Children
Image from the knot {photograph by Digital Arts Photography}
If you’re having children in your wedding, make sure that their parents will be able to direct and sit with them once they get to the end of the aisle. If you have parents of children that will be at your wedding in your wedding party, make sure there is another adult to sit with them. Make sure that adult is ready to escort the child out of the ceremony if needed. A good tip is to have candy or chocolate to “bribe” the child with in case he/she becomes restless.
November 20th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Ceremony Readings
Image from the knot {photograph by Steve DePino Photography}
Share something special with your wedding guests by choosing a reading meaningful to you and your fiance. Also, it’s a great way to include someone who isn’t in your bridal party. Don’t include more than two readings, because it will make your ceremony drag on and guests will become restless. If you have a lot of faith in the person doing the reading, you can let him/her choose the passage – you can always offer suggestions. Note readings in your ceremony program with the passage and name of the person doing the reading.
November 19th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Walking Down the Aisle
Image from the knot {photograph by Whitney Johnson}
Traditionally, the bride’s father walks her down the aisle. However, if the bride’s father is deceased, not a presence in her life or unavailable, the bride could have another male family member {such as a brother, uncle or step father} walk her down the aisle, have her mother walk her down the aisle or walk down the aisle unescorted. Brides should really do what feels right to them.
November 18th, 2009
Tip of the Day – Basic Components of a Ceremony
Image from the knot {photography by Rebecca}
Prelude Music
Special Guests are Seated
Processional Music and Processional
Officiant’s Opening Remarks
Vows
Exchange of Rings
Pronouncement
The First Kiss as Husband and Wife
Recessional Music and Ressional
Those are the basic components of a ceremony. However, couples can alter this to include cultural and religious elements. Personalize your ceremony by including things that represent you as a couple and the uniting of your families.
