Wedding Supplies

Spain is known as a passionate, colorful country, rich in culture.  These attributes make the perfect ingredients for creating an amazing wedding. Spanish wedding traditions have long been a staple in Western European culture. Though they have certainly changed over the years, some of them are still practiced and cherished today.

One tradition that has survived the test of time is the presentation of thirteen coins from the groom to the bride.  Before a couple exchanges their vows, the groom gives his bride a wedding present of thirteen coins. The coins, which are usually presented in some type of special bag or box, symbolize the groom’s commitment to his new bride and his vow to support her.  The bride carries the coins, which are then blessed by the priest or minister, during the ceremony. Once they’ve served their purpose, the coins are added to the collection of family keepsakes.

Orange blossoms have long been the flower of choice for Spanish brides. Since the orange tree bears fruit and blossoms at the same time, its flowers represent happiness and fulfillment. Today, brides tend to use a combination of rose garlands and/or white flowers in their wedding ceremonies, but the orange blossom still remains a favorite accent and is often used in bouquets, wreaths and tiaras.

In more modern times, Spanish brides have opted to wear white silk dresses as their bridal gown.  A traditional Spanish bride’s wedding gown, although still made of silk, was quite different.  Both the dress and the lace veil were black.  Also, traditionally the groom would wear a shirt that the bride embroidered for him especially for the ceremony.

The Lasso Ceremony is a time honored tradition that begins during the minister’s prayer right after the bride and groom has said their vows. A rosary is wrapped around the couple to insure the protection of the union.

As with most cultures, the wedding rings are a significant part of the ceremony as well. Although some people may be accustomed to wearing wedding rings on the ring finger of the left hand, Spanish wedding traditions are different. The bride and groom wear wedding rings on the right hand.

A Spanish wedding reception is filled with lively festivities and music. It is typical too see a Mariachi Band or hear a DJ playing Latin or Spanish music.  The Spanish are known for their flashy, colorful dancing. During the reception guests traditionally dance a “sequidillas manchegas” and present the newlyweds with a gift.

The meal served at the reception will often consist of seafood and/or the native dish paella.  Local wines and sangria are also very popular.  Wedding cookies flavored with almond and different spices are a favorite delicacy. The wedding cake is usually filled with a variety of local fruits and almonds.

The bride and groom like to give their guests a variety of different party favors. The men in attendance can expect cigars.  The bride gives out small pins that should be worn upside down by the unmarried women during the festivities. The Spanish tradition believes if the pin is lost during the reception; the lady who loses it will be the next in line to marry.

As you can see, a Spanish wedding is an extremely festive occasion filled with time-honored traditions. Add some of these ideas to your wedding and you’ll be guaranteed a dynamic event filled with sound, color, and a whole lot of love.

How about this for a twist…instead of having a wedding theme based on one ethnic background, why not create a melting pot?  Not only can the couple incorporate their own nationalities into the wedding but many other traditions will keep the event fresh, interesting, and exciting.

Starting from invitations, through favors, and on to the final dance, guests can experience a different country’s tradition throughout the entire event.  Just a few choices from the many options available could be Oriental centerpieces, Greek favors, Egyptian jewelry and old style scrolled British invitations. 

The wedding attire, the ceremony, and the reception are all great places to add that heritage factor.  Each member of the wedding party could be dressed in different outfit, customary to different regions of the world.  The bride a groom could do the same.  The ceremony itself can include many different customs and rituals. 

The reception is an especially perfect spot for a myriad of ethnic “flavors.”  You can have each table labeled as a different country.  For instance, The Jones’ may be sitting at the Africa table, with the Smith’s are sitting at the Brazil table.  You can decorate each table in colors and themes from that particular country, maybe using that country’s flag as the centerpiece.  If you choose to serve a buffet style meal, each station could be a food indigenous to each different county.  Appetizers could be a variety of Indian Tapas, while the main course could consist of favorite Italian dishes, maybe tied up with French desserts.  Another great place to include ancient traditions is on the dance floor.  There are so many great traditional dances along with music to accompany them.  As many of the older, traditional dances, encourage audience participation, this is a great way for couples to interact with their guests.   

Whatever your choice, this is a very easy theme to work with and you will find the possibilities are endless and plentiful.  Most of us want our wedding to be an unforgettable event and having an Around the World theme, will certainly prove to be a one-of-a-kind event for your guests and a most memorable occasion for you both.

Egyptian Shell Necklace

Since Italy has such diverse regions and such a long history, Italian wedding customs vary from region to region, as well as from era to era.

Let’s begin with choosing the perfect date.  Old church traditions warn against marrying during Lent, Advent, and during the months of May and August. Sunday marriages are believed to be the luckiest.

On the morning of the wedding it is customary for the couple getting married to walk to the church together.  Townsfolk traditionally place obstacles in the bride’s path to see how she would react to domestic situations.  For example, if there was a broom in her way and she picked it up, it meant she would be a good housekeeper.  If there was a crying child in her way and she stopped to help them, it meant she would be a good mother. If they met a pig or came across a funeral during their walk, it meant bad luck.  A black cat, sunshine or a rainbow forecasts good fortune.  In some regions, the bride and groom might be asked to cut a log in half, using a double-handed saw, before they reach the wedding site.  This demonstrates their partnership in love and marriage.  More recently this tradition takes place in between the wedding and the reception.

Once they reach the wedding site, yet another popular Italian tradition awaits the couple.  The door has a ribbon tied across, much like the doors of the houses along the couple’s walk between the bride’s house and the church.  This symbolizes the “tying of the knot” and the bond between the couple getting married.

The actual wedding ceremony (sposalizio) is usually a catholic mass and is officiated by a priest. To ward off evil spirits, the groom might carry a piece of iron in his pocket. He will also present his bride a bouquet made with fragrant herbs, in hopes of warding off evil spirits.  The bride also wears a veil to hide her face from the evil jealous spirits. Tearing the veil is considered good luck.  Conversely, it is considered bad luck for a bride to wear any gold on her wedding day, until the wedding rings are exchanged.

A lengthy celebration begins with dancing and feasting that continues into the wee hours of the morning.  For the traditional Italian custom of ‘buste’, the bride will carry a satin bag (la borsa) in which guests place envelopes containing monitary gifts.  She may even allow the male guests to put money in it in exchange for a dance with her.  Sometimes the bag is guarded by the bride’s grandmother during the festivities. 

The menu at an Italian reception is nearly as important as the wedding itself.  Guests may be served as many as 14 different courses.  The meal begins with antipasto salad (meaning “before the pasta”) and includes bow-ties, or wanda (small pieces of twisted, sugared dough). Italian wines are served, along with soup, many kinds of pasta, pickled peppers, fried squid and olives and vegetables.  The meat is usually a chicken, a roast lamb or a roast pig. 

Sweet liquor and strong drinks are served to the guests, by the best man, before the dinner begins. This gives guests a chance to toast the happy couple with “Per cent’anni” which means, for a hundred years. One popular custom is a toast, “Evviva gli sposi” (hurray for the newlyweds) usually made by a male guest after a few glasses of wine.  This toast is shouted whenever there is a lull in the celebration, renewing the spirit and enthusiasm of party. “Kiss for the bride” is another popular Italian toast and calls for the bride and groom to stand and show their affections for all the guests to view.

 After dinner, the customary multi-layered Italian wedding cake is served with espresso and coffee.

Before the reception is over, the bride and groom usually break a glass. The number of pieces of shattered glass symbolize the years the happy couple will share together. At some weddings, a pair of white doves is released into the air, symbolizing the couple’s love and happiness. Incorporating Italian wedding customs into your own marriage is another sure-fire way to ensure that love and happiness today and always.

keep your feet happy on your wedding day!

There are so many things to plan and so much to do when you’re engaged. A big decision that needs to be made is where to go on your honeymoon. A lot of thought goes into planning the honeymoon. Where will you go? How long will you stay? How much will it cost you?

Today, a lot of couples are opting for destination weddings. This means that you actually get married at the location you’ve chosen for your honeymoon. This typically involves an island or resort somewhere. I know the Caribbean Islands are a popular choice for destination weddings because I have been to a few islands over the past ten years and have seen many a bride and groom.

During your planning stage, see if a resort, (wherever you plan to honeymoon), offers a package deal that will include the marriage ceremony. Once you’ve established that piece, the next step is to determine the size of the wedding. Will you be offering to pay for the flight and/or accommodations for your bridal party? And if not, is it feasible for them to pay?  What about other relatives and close friends? Chances are that you’ll invite some people that will be able to afford a destination wedding/reception and some that will not. You may find yourself planning your wedding budget around some of your guests.

Destination weddings are great as a one stop package deal. After the wedding and reception, you don’t have to run around to get to the airport to leave for your honeymoon. One thing’s for sure, if you do decide to have a destination wedding, you don’t want to worry about to what to wear on your feet. This might not be at the forefront of your mind, but it’s definitely something to consider. After all, you can’t wear high heels on the beach! Aha, so what’s the alternative? Well you could go bare foot, but that might be too casual for a wedding. How about a nice pair of custom wedding flip flops? They’re appropriate footwear for the beach and yet elegant enough for a wedding. They’re appropriate for the bridal party as well as the bride. And after the ceremony, you won’t have to change your shoes to be comfortable. Even if you choose not to have a destination wedding, you’ll still want comfortable shoes for the reception, right? So custom wedding flip flops may still strike your fancy. Then you can bring them along with you on your honeymoon!

Irish Wedding Rings

I’m sure there are more than just Irish Eyes smiling at an Irish wedding.  This series has emphasized how popular it has become for couples to draw on their cultural and ethnic backgrounds and to include them in their weddings.  Ireland is no exception.  The rich Irish heritage offers elements that add color and flavor, making an Irish wedding a truly special event. 

There are a variety of Irish elements that can be easily incorporated into a wedding. One obvious element is to get married on St. Patrick’s Day.  Building your theme around the color green (after Ireland’s nickname Emerald Isle), can be a simple yet elegant choice. Symbolism can even be as basic as decorating the wedding invitations with Celtic knots.  Perhaps the best-known symbol of Ireland is the shamrock.  The color green and shamrock together can be used to design spectacular centerpieces and decorations and can even carry over to the wedding party flowers.  The fragrant Bells of Ireland, may also be used as part of the theme, as they too, are green.  English lavender, an ancient symbol of love, loyalty, devotion and even luck is often mixed with the bride’s wedding flowers to help insure a happy and long-lasting marriage.  Of course, it’s totally at the couple’s discretion what and how many Irish traditions to use.  The options are really endless.

Moving on to the ceremony itself, an old Irish tradition calls for the wedding couple to walk to the church together before exchanging their vows. As they walk down the main street to the church, onlookers throw rice to bless the marriage.  Sometimes they even throw larger items, such as pots and pans. 

Historically an Irish bride wears a blue wedding dress.  In ancient Irish tradition, blue symbolized purity.  Only more recently has the white wedding dress become a symbol of virginity and purity. Another tradition is for the bride to braid her hair for her wedding day. Braided hair is an ancient symbol of feminine power and luck.  A groom, with a comfortable sense of self-confidence, might even consider wearing a kilt and asking his groomsmen to do likewise. Kilts, represent a particular family and bring both culture and very personal family heritage to the event.

Traditionally an Irish bride wears a Claddagh ring as her wedding ring.  This ring has become a very popular symbol of a person’s romantic status and continues to be a fashionable choice for an engagement and or wedding ring, for couples all around the world.  It is a heart held by two hands with the heart topped by a crown.  The heart in the design symbolizes love longed to be shared with one’s true love. The crown symbolizes undying loyalty and the hands symbolize friendship, which is, the foundation of love.  The ring’s motto is: “Let love and friendship reign.” If a woman wears a Claddagh Ring on her right hand with the heart facing outward toward the end of her finger this signifies that she is single and looking for love. If the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart facing inward, toward the woman’s knuckle, it signifies that she is engaged. Finally, if a Claddagh Ring is worn on the left hand it means that the woman is married.   The Claddagh has truly become an everlasting symbol of love and marriage.

Other ethnic wedding traditions focus on the food. At some traditional Irish weddings distinct Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, mead, and dark beer will be served.  Mead is a wine-like drink that is made from honey, water and yeast. It was thought that mead could improve virility in men and fertility in women, and so held a significant place at weddings. It is suggested that the word honeymoon originated from the ingredient in mead (i.e., the honey). Irish history documents a ritual where the groom captures the bride at her home and brings her to the wedding feast, where large quantities of mead are consumed. Once the festivities were over, the groom would “hide” the bride from her family for a period of a “full moon”, in hopes that the bride might then be pregnant so that the marriage could not be challenged. One could say that the custom started with honey (mead) and ended with the moon.

As with most weddings, the cake is a focal point at an Irish wedding. The theme can be kept by decorating cakes with shamrocks and green icing and even an Irish cream filling.  The wedding cake may even be a variation of a fruitcake recipe. 

Finally, it’s time to party and we all know the Irish are famous for a good time.  Music plays a significant role in creating the mood for the reception.  Both old and new favorites are widely available, so whether you have bagpipers, a band or simply a DJ, music with an ethnic flare can truly shape the tone of your event.  “The Irish Wedding Song,” a slow waltz-type song, is a great way to kick off the reception. Starting alone on the dance floor, the bride and groom are then joined by their guests. Popular Irish ballads, such as “Black Velvet Band,” and “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” are great drinking songs that encourage crowd participation.  

Whatever Irish traditions you choose, mixing the old with the new is sure to add a special twist to your celebration, that guests will talk about for years to come.

Enjoy a toast with your best man and maid of honor

     What’s the perfect gift to give the people you love on your wedding day? The list of people is probably long, and each person should receive an individual, special gift. So let’s focus on the best man and the maid or matron of honor. They are important people in the wedding party.

                These are the two people that you’ve hand-picked to stand up for you on one of the most special days of your life. Whether they’re a relative or a friend, the best man and maid of honor obviously represent an important part of your life.  As such, they deserve something extra special. 

                The idea behind a gift for these two individuals is two-fold. You clearly want to thank them for standing up for you at the altar, (or wherever you are getting married), but you also want them to remember your wedding as a memory shared between you and them. How do you accomplish this?

                If you think about it, taking into account their personalities and relationships to you, you’re sure to come up with several great ideas. Try this on for size; pick out your favorite wedding flutes, then buy a second identical set and divide them. Have them engraved with something special like “cheers to you” and put your wedding date. Give one flute to the best man and the other to the maid of honor. Make sure they know that it’s the same wedding flute that you and your spouse have.

Even if he or she doesn’t drink, they’ll still be able to find a special place in their homes and in their hearts for this thoughtful gift. It’s a great way to say thank you and I love you!

A special blessing

A procession ceremony begins early the morning of the day of the wedding.  This ceremony is referred to as “Hae Khun Mag” or “Haih Khun Maak.”  The groom leads the ceremony, as he and the guests bring food and gifts to the bride’s family.  Next, the groom’s family, friends and associates follow.  The procession ends with the playing of a very lively song called “Ram Klong Yao.”  This popular song is always played during an important Thai festivity.

Once at the bride’s home, the groom must cross through the silver and gold gates.  The bride’s female relatives block two doors with necklaces and chains.  They won’t move for the groom until he pays them with either money or gifts.  He must pay even more to pass through the golden gate.  After he passes through the two doors, he will finally be allowed to enter the house where his bride will be waiting for him.  At this time, there may be a foot washing ceremony, where the bride washes the groom’s feet to show her allegiance to him.  She will then thank him for the money and gifts he gave her family.

Many Thai weddings have a Buddhist ceremony.  Nine Monks will come to the house to deliver a blessing and then will have lunch together. 

Later that afternoon is the main part of the wedding, called ROD-NAM-SANG, or the “Shell Ceremony.”  Both families come together to watch the couple as they give their vows and receive their blessings.  The couple sits close together on the floor with a flower chain connecting their hands. The parents of the bride and groom will soak the couple’s hands in water and wish them good luck. The water is contained in a conch shell container (ROD is soak, NAM is water, and SANG is conch shell).  Usually, only selected people like close friends and close relatives will be invited to this event.

Finally, once all of the customs have been completed, it’s time to party!!  On the same night, between 100-300 guests are invited to a large dinner.  This celebration is filled with a lot of music, dancing, and most of all fun.  Please do not dress in black as this is reserved for a sad event like a funeral and many Thais view this as a sign of bad luck to the couple.

Although many of these traditions have changed through the years.  Thai weddings remain a special occasion that are sure to be not only entertaining but memorable.

wedding accessories to complete your wedding reception

               Many a bride struggles with finding that something special that will separate her wedding day from everyone else’s. Statistics show that in 2008, 2,208,000 people got married. How can you possibly compete with a number like that and expect that your wedding will dramatically different?

                Financially speaking, the bigger the wedding reception, the more it’s going to cost just for the bare necessities. The fancier everything is; from invitations to flowers to the numerous other wedding accessories, the more expensive your wedding will be. Then, of course you’ll need entertainment, a photographer and lots of food. All this adds up quickly and you may still not have anything truly out of the ordinary.

                There are always things you can do to make a memorable wedding reception for your guests. I say your guests because everything about your wedding should be special to you, the bride and groom. Sometimes it’s an out of the ordinary favor. Sometimes it’s a really great band. Maybe you’ll have a champagne fountain, (of course that probably depends on your budget). What about the photography?

                Is there something out of the ordinary that you can do here? People often put a disposable camera on some or all of the guest tables. It’s a great way to get candids of your family and friends because after all, the photographer can’t be everywhere at the same time. Videos of the reception are very common as well and fun for the bride and groom to watch the next day.

While both of these make great memories for the bride and groom, why not do something that your “audience” will love too? A wonderful way to accomplish this is to make a video for the guests to watch sometime during the reception. Make a video comprised of pictures from both the bride and groom’s childhood and through the years until they met. Then incorporate pictures of their courtship up until just before the wedding. Set it to the music of your choice and you’re good to go! Something like this really makes a great impact. For people who only really know the bride or the groom, it’s a good way to introduce the other. It can be entertaining and funny and don’t be surprised if you see some teary-eyed guests. This option is one that definitely sets the tone for a great reception full of good times, fond memories and future blessings.

Filipinos are known to have some of the most beautiful wedding ceremonies in the world.  Because their culture so strongly believes in the sanctity of marriage, they make sure the wedding is an unforgettable event.

This sacred bond between the bride and groom begins with the “pamamanhikan,” or “the meeting of the two families.”  Traditionally the groom and his family pay a visit to the bride’s family to “collectively” ask for her hand in marriage.  Pamamanhikan is the event where two sets of parents come together to make plans for the future.  Guest list, budget, and food choices are just some of the topics that will be discussed at this meeting.

 Many years ago, the traditional ceremony would last for three days.  Although this custom has changed drastically over the centuries others remain the same.  These days there are special guests asked to act as witnesses to the marriage.  People like godparents, aunts, and uncles or even a parent might be amongst those asked to honor this request.  Sometimes there are even secondary sponsors, who handle a specific task.  A veil sponsor is someone who places a veil over the bride’s head and the groom’s shoulder.  This act is done to “clothe” them as one.  Another sponsor will light the candles that the couple uses to light one single candle to symbolize their union. A final custom, needing the assistance of a sponsor, is the draping of the cord or “yugal.”  In this tradition, a decorative silk cord is draped over the shoulders of the couple.  It is tied into a figure eight shape, which is believed to yield eternal fidelity.  One particular tradition specific to the couple is driven by the groom. He gives his bride thirteen coins blessed by the priest.  These coins symbolize the groom’s dedication to his bride and their future children.  This sign of respect is to let her know that he will provide for her and their children.

 Now, what to wear…  Well, Western culture has once again influenced fashion and white gowns are a very popular choice amongst most Filipino brides.  Historically brides wore dresses with festive designs or one reflective of a certain season.  For the groom, the traditional formal wear is called a Barong Tagalog.  This is worn, un-tucked, with a white shirt underneath and a pair of black pants.

The absolute best part of the entire affair is the feast afterwards.  This elaborate event consists of soups, a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits and desserts.  Make sure you bring your appetite because you certainly won’t go home hungry.     

Filipino Cord and Veil Ceremony