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

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.

Generally couples feel extremely honored by the presence of those who attend their wedding.  This couldn’t hold more, true than in the Indonesian culture.  As a matter of fact, the bride and groom will send an invitation to anyone and everyone they know, even if they are a mere acquaintance or simply visiting the area for a short time.  Although most acquaintances won’t show up, there could still be hundreds if not thousands of guests in attendance.  They especially like having some foreigners there.  Guests not native to Indonesia are believed to be very prestigious.  Believe it or not, a majority of the guests are only invited to the wedding reception, not the wedding.  Imagine feeding and entertaining thousands!!!

The wedding ceremony itself, which can last for several days, is reserved for close friends and family only.  Rituals followed during the wedding ceremony vary from region to region.  A bathing ceremony is one traditional custom.  One ritual involves the gathering of the families so that the groom and his relatives can give presents to the bride’s family.  Another special custom is the kneeling ceremony.  During this event, the couple kneels in front of their parents in order to receive blessings.  While kneeling, they ask their parents’ forgiveness for any wrongdoings they may have done in the past.  During the formal ceremony, a religious rite is given based on the couple’s religious belief.  According to local law, couples from different religious backgrounds are not allowed to marry unless one changes his or her religion.   

Getting back to the reception…. the dress code will depend on the time of day and location of the event.  For a more casual affair, men will wear a long sleeved batik shirt and women a casual dress or slacks and shirt.  For a more formal, evening event, it is appropriate for men to wear a suit.  Indonesian women usually wear regional outfits in bright colors and adorned with their finest gold jewelry. 

Indonesian weddings are viewed as very special occasions.  If you happen to be around and available, Indonesian couples will feel very blessed that you took the time out of your busy schedule to show up, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Capture the spirit of the season you marry in

Winter time weddings usually breed winter themed weddings, including location, (probably indoors), decorations and possibly your selection of a favor. I went to a December wedding once where the couple gave each female guest two ornate glass Christmas ornaments. I suspect they were pricy because they were in boxes from an upscale department store. I certainly understand the relevancy here, but if the majority of your guests don’t celebrate Christmas, (and you are aware of this fact), then I’d suggest something else; something more appropriate for the general public.

Spring weddings tend to lend themselves to a few more options than winter weddings. Depending on the month, you can have a portion or all of wedding reception outdoors. You’ll have a variety of flowers to choose from. You can find lots of wedding supplies geared towards the spring months, including holidays like St. Patrick’s Day. You may also get a better turn out of out of town guests. People are less averse to traveling if in climate weather isn’t an issue.

Daytime or nighttime weddings are both good choices in the summer. I would suggest lighter colors and lighter weight dresses for the bridesmaids. People will get antsy quickly if they have to spend an hour on formal pictures outside in a black gown in the middle of August! If your reception is going to be outside, make sure the tables are under tents or that there is some form of shade. If it’s going to be indoors, make sure the reception hall has air conditioning.

Fall and harvest type themes speak volumes in the fall months. If you’re into the yellows, oranges and browns, then fall is the right season for you. It should be relatively easy to provide an elegant setting or whatever setting you want with the changing of leaf colors. Corn stalks and scarecrows are great if they’re utilized in the proper setting. If your wedding is early enough in the fall season, you may be able to have cocktail hour outside.

No matter what month you pick to marry in, just try to make sure that you are in sync with the season. You can certainly do what you want to do, but if your hearts’ desire is to have a clambake for the food, I’d stick with the summer months. It might seem a little odd to eat steamers and lobster in many places in January. Of course you could always have a destination wedding to the Caribbean or some other exotic place where it’s pretty much always summer.  Ah, but that’s a whole separate topic!

Let the unity candle light the way to your marriage

The internet has really opened up a lot of creative options for today’s wedding planner.  The traditional wedding has been adapted in many forms thanks to the ideas and ease of research on the internet.  Take the lighting of the unity candle, for example.  There was a time when this tradition was automatically part of the ceremony.  Lighting these three candles, in the presence of the guests at the ceremony, symbolizes the unity of the couple from individuals, into one.

In today’s world, this tradition still goes on, in many different formats.  For a more formal unity candle lighting, with a slight twist, you may want to involve the parents or families of the couple.  This would not only symbolize the union of the wedding couple but also the joining of the two families.  If you’d like to involve your guests, you can provide an unlit candle to each guest as they arrive.  After the couple lights the unity candle, they can have the guests come forward to light their candles off of the newly lit unity candle.  This involves the guests in your ceremony and represents their support of the marriage.  Doing this can be time consuming, not to mention a little dangerous.  It may be something to consider with a smaller guest list or toward the end of the ceremony as guests are leaving.  The candles can also serve as a keepsake for the guests.

 Another less traditional idea is to incorporate the unity candle lighting into the reception.  This would be a great way to tie in centerpieces and or favors.  Upon arriving at the reception, the couple could light the unity candle, then go around to each table and light a pre-set votive centerpiece.  It’s a great ice breaker, a way to say hello to your guests, a way to incorporate a special tradition and an easy centerpiece idea.   Although this tradition is not new nor is it necessary, there are certainly ways to make it a unique and special part of your wedding day.