Sunday, October 9, 2011

Everything You Needed to Know About Indonesian Weddings




Everything You Needed to Know About Indonesian Weddings
Indonesian weddings can be very large and exciting events. While some of them are simple gatherings at the families' homes, some of them are elaborate events with hundreds or even thousands of guests. At these celebrations the couple's parents invite everyone that the family is even remotely acquainted with. Friends, business associates, colleagues, etc.- many of whom the bride and groom may not even know themselves. A lot of planning goes into an Indonesian wedding, and it's not uncommon for the families to send out over 1,000 invitations.
Needless to say, an Indonesian wedding can be a social event, and the bride and groom will even greet each individual guest to thank them for their kindness. Guests must wait in a long line for their chance to be greeted by the bride and groom. After each guest is greeted, the reception will begin. Most guests are only invited to the reception, while the wedding ceremonies are intended for the closest friends and relatives of the couple. Indonesian wedding ceremonies can last for many days, and the majority of the guests only stay at the reception for a half hour or so. Some of them may even have other weddings to attend later that same day!
The guest list probably took a lot of time to prepare, and the invitations are sent out only about two weeks before the wedding. The families go by the Muslim or Javanese calendar in order to determine the wedding date. They will plan the wedding during a "fortunate" month. Indonesians can be superstitious when it comes to dates and timing. The most modern Indonesians can even go by ancient wedding customs and traditions.

Samoan Wedding Dresses, Gowns, Online Bridal Store




Samoan Wedding Dresses, Gowns, Online Bridal Store
Samoan brides, in the Polynesian regions, who are about to get married take their time when selecting a wedding dress in order to select one that fits them well and complements their figures. A bride needs to select a wedding dress three to five months in advance to avoid getting disappointed. A person should consider a number of factors when purchasing Samoan wedding dresses such as the prices, a person's body type and type of wedding.
How Samoans prepare fabrics for wedding gowns:
Brides from Samoa make their traditional wedding gowns using tapa cloth, which they obtain from the barks of mulberries. Some Samoan brides may make their wedding gowns out of 'siapo', which is a cloth they make out of hardwood barks; this fabric is important especially during wedding ceremonies where the culture demands that the bride should put on a wedding dress made of this fabric.
How to obtain a Samoan wedding dress online:
A person can rent or purchase a modern Samoan wedding gown via the internet by Blogging onto websites that sell them to get recommendations on where to obtain fair-prices Samoan wedding dresses.
After getting lists of websites, a person should visit each one of them in order to identify the online stores that have the best offers. Online stores in teuila that sell or rent out Samoan wedding gowns normally have visual images of the dresses that are available. It is necessary that a person should have a valid credit card in order to allow the transactions to take place effectively.

Choose Wedding Favors That Fit Your Wedding Needs





Choose Wedding Favors That Fit Your Wedding Needs
Planning a wedding takes a lot of serious decisions to make. Making your dreamed wedding come true is not as easy as what you think. Even the smallest details, such as wedding favors, need extra care and attention from you.
It has been a tradition to give out wedding favors. These are meant for guests to take home as a souvenir from a wedding. It is also believed that giving wedding favors is a way of the bride and groom to thank the guests at their wedding. It shows appreciation as well for sharing time with them. With these beliefs, many couples still provide wedding favors even though it is not a requirement.
When choosing appropriate wedding favors, there are some important things that you have to keep in mind. You can't just purchase anything without considering your budget, the number of guests you are expecting, the theme of your wedding, and of course your personality.
It is important to set a budget first before making a decision for your wedding favors. You don't need to spend too much on them, just keep your options within the capacity of your resources. Count your guests and as soon as you have the exact figure, you can then decide the cost of each favor your willing to spend for them. If you have a long guest list and don't want to spend more on your favors, you need to trim it down. It is not only on the favors that you can save money, but also on other parts of your wedding such as food and drinks, wedding invitations, and venue. You don't need to rent a big hall if you have a small number of attendees to come.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Unique Wedding Invitations and Wedding Stationery For Your Big Day







Unique Wedding Invitations and Wedding Stationery For Your Big Day
Wedding invitations can be considered as the starting point of the wedding celebration. Whether formal or unique wedding invitations, the invitation that you send should give your visitors a glimpse of what will happen and how they should prepare for the celebration. You don't want you visitors to come in formal attire at a bikers wedding because you sent out a wedding invitation in a format that is very formal.
Proper wedding invitation wording should be followed as much as possible. Even for the unique wedding invitation wording you should carefully choose the words that you write to give the correct invitation. Complete names should be there if you are inviting a couple, and if they have kids, write down the names of the children as well. A Christian wedding invitation wording most of the time will include all that will be part of the wedding, and you will know what part you will have to play in this wedding in advance because of the invitation. Unlike the wedding shower invitation wording that could be informal since it will be between friends, the wedding program and invitation wording should be the first face of your wedding plans.
This type of wording doesn't spare even the 50th wedding anniversary invitation wording. Since you are formally inviting them to a great celebration, it's just proper to inform them all that they need to prepare for the celebration. The anniversary wedding reception invitation wording should also tell the visitor who they bring and how many.
If you are having trouble with this, you can just go online and look for free wedding invitation wording. Wedding websites will give you samples for a proper card invitation. A good example would be in a garden wedding or the destination wedding invitation wording. A wedding invitation wording example could be your perfect guide to have that great invitation, but remember the wedding invitation wording sample is only a sample, and you still need to be creative.

Wedding Invitation Wording - A Step by Step Guide





Wedding Invitation Wording - A Step by Step Guide
Using the handy step-by-step guide on the opposite page and the easy line-by-line explanations below, you and your fiance will be ready to compose the perfect wedding invitation.
INVITATIONAL LINE
The first line, the "invitational line," just as its name suggests, simply tells who is issuing the invitation. It typically includes the bride's parents' names since they traditionally host the wedding, or the invitational line may include the couple's names if they are hosting the wedding themselves.
REQUEST LINE
The line that actually invites your guests to the wedding varies depending on where you plan to marry. Use "request the honour of your presence" if you plan to wed in a church, synagogue, or other house of worship. Use "request the pleasure of your company" if you are marrying outdoors, at home, or at another venue such as a hotel or historical site. The preferred spelling for "honour" and "favour" is a matter of personal preference. "Honour" is the more traditional, English version. Whichever spelling you choose, use it consistently throughout your wedding
correspondence.
BRIDE'S NAME
The bride's two given names are shown on this line. Her last name is also included if it is different from her parents' last name, if the groom's parents' names are also on the invitation and she wants to add her last name for clarity, or if she and her fiance are issuing the invitations themselves.
JOINING WORD
Traditional wording often uses the preposition "to" since the bride will be
married "to" her groom; however, traditional Jewish invitations include the word "and" between the bride's name and the groom's name to indicate the joining of two families. You will also find "and" used in the traditional wording for invitations to many Catholic ceremonies. Basically the use of "to" or "and" in both wedding invitations and announcements is a personal preference.
The use of "to" or "and" on a line alone allows the bride's and groom's names to stand out when one first glances at the invitation. When both sets of parents' names are at the top of the invitation, using "and" between them is not improper, but it will reduce the impact of the bride's and groom's names. In this situation, if you wish to include "and," the best solution is to add it on the same line as the groom's parents' names.
GROOM'S NAME
Along with the groom's full name, include the title "Mr." on the invitation under most circumstances. If he is a doctor, the title "Doctor" should be written in full, not abbreviated.
DATE LINE, YEAR LINE
Do not use abbreviations or numerals on the date line; each word should
be written out. Add "morning" or "evening" after the day only if the time of the wedding might otherwise be interpreted either way. If you plan to marry at nine o'clock, for example, that could refer to morning or evening and would need clarification. Adding a line for the year is a matter of personal choice; it is not necessary, but it is also not improper. You may want to include it since your wedding invitation will be a keepsake for generations to come. The year should always be included on wedding announcements since they are mailed after the wedding has taken place. You will occasionally see the word "on" used before the date, but it is preferable to omit it.
TIME LINE
If you plan to marry on the hour, the time line simply reads "at five o'clock," but if your wedding is scheduled for 5:30, it should read "at half after five o'clock."
LOCATION
Always include the full name of the wedding site, with no abbreviations. If you plan to marry at home, simply include the full address. You may use the phrase "at the residence of" if you plan to marry at the home of friends.
LOCATION ADDRESS
Since you rarely need to include the exact street address of your ceremony site unless two sites share the same name, the city and state serve as the address. If your reception will be held at the same site, you may add the line "and afterwards at the reception" following the city and state.
FOOTNOTES
A brief footnote may be added at the bottom of your invitation to indicate proper attire or another special circumstance, and may be positioned in the left corner, right corner, or bottom center. Keep in mind that it should be no more than a word or two; too much copy and the words will be small and difficult to read. A footnote that's too long can also detract from the look of your invitation by throwing the copy off balance.

Wedding Program Ideas For the Perfect Spring Wedding





Wedding Program Ideas For the Perfect Spring Wedding
In spite of how great and wonderful wedding planners are, do remember that they are not mind readers so they would truly appreciate it if you have some concrete ideas for the wedding. If you want something more unique and a church wedding is not really your style then you might want to check out private gardens, pocket parks or other cozy outdoor locations for your wedding venue. You can easily spruce these up with pretty decorations to make everything look more romantic.
Other things involving wedding planning ideas that you must well coordinate with your wedding planner are the details about the reception - make sure he or she knows how many guests are really attending; your wedding dress; your wedding cake - make sure to be there at the taste testing and leave every decision to your wedding planner. And also make sure you choose an appropriate wedding program. Make sure the wedding program wording is personal because it adds a sentimental touch that can make guests feel included in you special day.
Remember that even if you were lucky enough to have hired a great wedding planner who has loads of fabulous wedding planning ideas, it is still your wedding and the event should be all about what you want and how you truly envisioned your perfect wedding to be.


Catholic Wedding Program Wording and Ideas




Catholic Wedding Program Wording and Ideas
What to Include
Basic elements every wedding program should include:
1. Bride and Grooms Names, Wedding Date, and Ceremony Location
2. The Wedding Party (Include the Minister, Parents, and the Bridal Party)
3. The Wedding Ceremony
4. Thank You to Guests
Sample Catholic Wedding Program Wording
In a Catholic wedding program the ceremony tends to take up the most space. The sample below is for a Full Catholic Mass wedding with communion; feel free to make adjustments to meet your needs.
ENTRANCE RITE
- Processional, "Canon in D"
- Entrance of the Bride, "Trumpet Voluntary"
- Opening Prayer, Bishop Catanello
LITURGY OF THE WORD
- Old Testament Reading, Genesis 2:18-24 ~ Read By Susan Kim
- Responsorial Psalm, "I Have Loved You"
- New Testament Reading, Corinthians 12:31-13.8a ~ Read By Thomas Jones
- Gospel Acclamation, "Celtic Alleluia"
- Gospel Reading, John 15:9-12 ~ Read by Bishop Catanello
- Homily, Bishop Catanello
RITE OF MARRIAGE
- Exchange of Consent
- Exchange of Wedding Vows
- Blessing and Exchange of the Rings
- Lighting of the Unity Candle "Ave Maria"
- Prayer of the Faithful
- Presentation of the Gifts to the Blessed Mother, Jean & Karen Jones
- The Lords Prayer
- Sign of Peace
- Communion
CONCLUDING RITE
- Concluding Prayer and Blessing
- Recessional, "Hornpipe from Water Music"

Preowned Wedding Dresses - Where to Find Them




Preowned Wedding Dresses - Where to Find Them
Talk to Family Members First - You may want to talk to your family members. Perhaps you have someone in the family that was married within the past few years. You may want to look at some wedding pictures to decide if the dress is one you really like before approaching your relative. In many cases, your family member may be more than happy to sell or give the dress to you. This is one way to find second hand or preowned wedding dresses, but remember that not every family member will be happy about you trying to replicate her wedding look.
Use Social Networks - Another way you may try to find second hand wedding dresses is by using social networks to your advantage. Use your accounts to let people know that you are trying to find the perfect preowned dress. Advertise the style and size that you really want. You may get some responses from people that you know. Just make it known that you plan on paying for that dress.
Check Out Websites - You'll quickly find that there are many websites that are now selling preowned wedding dresses, especially since they are becoming so popular today. A variety of websites basically act as a broker between brides selling their dresses and brides that are looking for a dress for their wedding. Just make sure that you carefully look at styles and ensure you know your size before you make a purchase.
Auction Sites - Auction sites may even have preowned wedding dresses for you to choose from. Many brides don't want to keep their dress and want to make a bit of money, so they turn to an auction site. This allows you to bid on the dress, which means you may get a great deal. Just make sure you get the right size and that you only purchase from reputable sellers on these websites.
Wedding Store Samples - Many brides find that they can actually find preowned wedding dresses at wedding stores. Many stores have sample gowns that they are willing to sell for lower prices. Sample gowns are simply gowns that are tried on by brides in the store. This means that maybe a few girls tried on the dress for a few minutes, but otherwise it's just like new. You can get these samples for 50% off or more, providing a great dress for an amazingly low price.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Groom Wedding Speeches




Groom Wedding Speeches
Let me make a bold assumption. You are a groom who is about to be married in just a few short days and you have waited until the last minute to sit down and write your speech. And like most of us, you have sat down at your computer, brought up Google and typed in those magic words: "groom wedding speeches".
I will sympathize with you because I know how hard these speeches are to write. You won't believe what I did to try to prepare a speech. I actually rented movies that had wedding scenes and watched any TV show where the main focus of the show was a wedding. If the groom happened to make a speech, it wasn't very good. So that leads me to my first tip on writing your own wedding speech: Do not try to write your speech based on something you saw in a movie! Trying to copy groom wedding speeches in movies should be avoided at all costs.
To help assist you, I have a list of tips below that will help you write several groom wedding speeches before you decide on which one to use. Simply follow the directions below (which will involve a lot of thinking and writing) and then put all the entire speech together in the end. That being said, you need to understand that you will have to put some effort into following these guidelines. By doing so, you are guaranteed to present a successful speech.
Tips on Putting Your Speech Together
1. Get yourself a journal and write down all of the funny events that happen leading up to your wedding day. Although you want to write an emotional speech, you want it to be humorous at the same time. By sharing wedding preparation secrets based on what happened behind the scenes, these secrets can really make a speech interesting

What Color Should You Wear To A Muslim Wedding?





What Color Should You Wear To A Muslim Wedding?
A Muslim wedding is a day of complete celebration for the bride, groom, their family and friends. Thus, it is an occasion for one and all to celebrate. There is now written rule of what should be worn and what should not be worn to a Muslim wedding. A lot depends on which part of the world you live in, and the level of rigidity followed by the Muslims there.
In a Muslim wedding, it is the most important day for the bride and groom. If you are close to them and know what color they are wearing, avoiding those colors is a must. This will make the bride and groom standout and make their special day a little bit more special for them.
Muslims have a lot of life in their weddings. The weddings are calm and serene yet there is a lot of fun and frolic too. Wearing white is the tradition in some areas but white is also the funeral shade in some areas. So, if you are in a doubt avoid white. Black is considered as a funeral color in some parts like so check out the local customs, before deciding on the color. Any other color apart from this is sure to bring you to the same fun mood that they are in.
Bright green and pinks are a favorite in Muslim weddings. You have the liberty to make a style statement here. The only thing you must keep in mind is that the dress should be modest. Oranges and yellows, red and maroons or if you want to wear all rainbow colors, the choice is yours. The dress should cover you arms and feet. Any thing, which is flowy, is surely bound to make you feel comfortable there.

Everything You Needed to Know About Indonesian Weddings





Everything You Needed to Know About Indonesian Weddings
Needless to say, an Indonesian wedding can be a social event, and the bride and groom will even greet each individual guest to thank them for their kindness. Guests must wait in a long line for their chance to be greeted by the bride and groom. After each guest is greeted, the reception will begin. Most guests are only invited to the reception, while the wedding ceremonies are intended for the closest friends and relatives of the couple. Indonesian wedding ceremonies can last for many days, and the majority of the guests only stay at the reception for a half hour or so. Some of them may even have other weddings to attend later that same day!
The guest list probably took a lot of time to prepare, and the invitations are sent out only about two weeks before the wedding. The families go by the Muslim or Javanese calendar in order to determine the wedding date. They will plan the wedding during a "fortunate" month. Indonesians can be superstitious when it comes to dates and timing. The most modern Indonesians can even go by ancient wedding customs and traditions.
If the reception is held in the afternoon, guests can dress more casually. Men can wear long sleeved shirts, and women can wear casual, but nice outfits. For receptions that are held during evening hours at a luxurious hotel, men are recommended to wear suits and women should dress more formally.
Guests will be brought into the main area to see the couple and their parents. Sometimes they will be at the end of the room standing on a platform, and other times they will greet the guests at the door. This is usually where the lines are formed for the guests to be greeted by the bride and groom. It's tradition for guests to say "Selamat bahagia!" to the couple. Foreigners may simply say "Congratulations." Indonesians consider it an honor to have foreigners at their weddings, and treat them as distinguished guests. They may even ask foreigners to pose in a picture with the bride and groom.

Traditional Javanese Wedding Ceremony - Javanese Wedding Ideas






Traditional Javanese Wedding Ceremony - Javanese Wedding Ideas
Indonesia herself is made up of more than 13,677 separate islands. Because of the wide variety of cultures, this has made an impact on ceremonies of marriage that are performed there. Every Indonesian wedding has a particular ceremony that is based on the family's cultural beliefs. The ceremony of marriage is not just a joining of two people, but a bond between the two families as well.
Before the Wedding
It is said that the mutual and sincere love that exists between a man and woman should ideally end in marriage. There are places in Indonesia where a couple marries because their parents wish it or because they themselves do. An ancient proverb of Java says, "Love grows as you get more used to each other." This is a lesson we can take for the present.
The Siraman Ceremony of Marriage
The word Siraman in English can be translated to mean to take a bath. The couple participating in this ritual strive to clean their bodies and souls. This ritual usually takes place in the afternoon, the day before, at the house of the bride for her, and at his home for the groom. The people who participate in bathing the couple is also very important. Elder woman are especially prized for the impeccable behavior and morals they display. When giving Siraman, there are usually up to only seven people involved.
Another important aspect of this Javanese ritual is the offering or the Sajen. The meaning of this is deep and symbolic. It is the request for protection from the Creator, our God. It is the way that ancestors are remembered so their souls live in eternal peace and to ask them for their blessings.
Find Out More
A Javanese wedding ceremony is rich in symbolism and rituals and it a beautiful event in which to participate. If you are interested in finding out more about the cultural traditions along with the proper rituals that accompany it, do your research on the internet or by asking your friends and relatives of Indonesian descent. It will surely please the families involved as well as the couple who are ready to take their marriage vows

Hispanic-American Wedding Customs





Hispanic-American Wedding Customs
The traditional Hispanic wedding ceremony involves a full Catholic Mass. It is important to note on your invitations that the service will be a Nuptial Mass, so that your guests will not be surprised by the length of the ceremony. One of the most special parts of a an Hispanic marriage are the roles of the madrina and the padrino, who are a married couple that agrees to serve as godparents, mentors, and advisors to the young couple during their engagement and the early years of their marriage. The madrina and padrino are usually a couple who has been important in the life of the bride or groom, and their role is much more than merely ceremonial. They traditionally help to pay for the wedding, as well as offering their spiritual and emotional guidance. The padrino is often the man who walks the bride down the aisle, and the madrino will provide the cushioned kneeler that the bride and groom use during the Nuptial Mass.
Custom is very important in Latin weddings, and it is considered very special for the bride to wear an heirloom bridal gown, veil, or jewelry from her mother or grandmother. The mantilla is the traditional Spanish lace veil that is passed down from one generation to the next, and is popular for brides in Spanish speaking countries in many parts of the world. The gorgeous lace veil is the one piece of Spanish traditional garb that almost every Hispanic-American brides thinks about first. If the bride is not wearing a family gown, some of the most popular choices for the wedding dress are slender styles or gowns with flamenco-inspired ruffled hems. It should be noted that in Spain, brides customarily wore black wedding gowns instead of white ones to symbolize their devotion until death. If a modern bride wanted to wear white, while still paying homage to her heritage, she could choose a white wedding gown with details such as black embroidery and black crystal bridal jewelry.
There are some lovely rituals that are a part of most Hispanic weddings. One is the offering of Las Arras, which is a set of thirteen coins that the groom gives to his bride during the ceremony. The exchange of the coins represent the groom's promise to provide for his family, and the bride's trust in his ability to do so. The coins number thirteen because it symbolizes Christ and the twelve Apostles.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Wedding Traditions of Puerto Rico





Wedding Traditions of Puerto Rico
The Bride's Bouquet
Bridal bouquets in Puerto Rico are abundant with the amapola, which is a traditional flower often used at a Puerto Rican wedding. The bouquet may also contain a fan as it is a part of traditional wedding attire in Puerto Rico. The maids of honor also carry bouquets made of amapola flowers whether real or silk, and fans as these things are said to signify good luck for the couple.
Traditional Wedding Favors
Typical wedding favors presented to guests at a Puerto Rican wedding are called capias. They are narrow ribbons imprinted with the names of the bride and groom on one end and the date of the wedding on the other. The bride and groom snip them off the bouquet before they are pinned upon their guests by the happy newlyweds.
The Wedding Ceremony
A Puerto Rican wedding ceremony is similar to most others except for one thing. During the wedding ceremony, a priest will bless a plate of coins and gives it to the groom. Once the wedding vows have been exchanged, the groom gives the same plate of coins to his new wife as a gift to her. This gift is a symbol of prosperity and good luck for the marrying pair. While the ceremony is being performed, you can usually hear the soft strains of the sounds of coqui, lending the atmosphere a most romantic air.
At the Reception
Puerto Rican custom dictates that at the head of the main table, a doll that is similarly dressed as the bride is placed. The doll is covered with charms and these charms are passed out to the wedding guests. A typical Puerto Rican wedding cake is decorated with seashells and is often a rum, pineapple or coconut flavor.

Traditional Mexican Weddings





Traditional Mexican Weddings
Mexican tradition states that the family of the groom will ask the family of the bride for her hand. Some families are really strict and do not give permission to the girl to meet other men. If the boy's family is not into the old tradition of approaching the girl, the groom to be will still meet the girl's family and ask respectfully for her hand.
In general, brides and grooms are catered by their godparents (or padrinos) who will take care of the engagement all the way through and will still play the role after the marriage takes place. The bride and groom can decide who the godparents will be, making the chosen ones feel very respected and honored. The role of the padrinos is to guide the boy and girl throughout the engagement and give them marital advice. Usually it is the older (and therefore wiser) people who will be asked to play this role.
During the wedding reception, the guests gather together in the form of a "heart" around the married couple while they dance. A pinata is hung at the reception venue which is usually filled with all sorts of candy. It is the job of the children to hit it until it breaks open and the candy falls; the guests then pick the sweets from the ground and celebrate.
In a typical Mexican wedding, you will often see the bride wearing a veil (called mantilla) and looking rather Spanish with a flamenco-like dress. Grooms usually wear a toreador type of outfit which fits the theme perfectly well, depicting the famous bullfighter costume.

Italian Wedding Customs





Italian Wedding Customs
Weddings are a very big deal in Italy. They are about more than just the marriage of one man and one woman; weddings are also the union of two families and all of their friends. This is a cause for great celebration! Italian weddings often start with a Nuptial Mass in the morning, followed by feasting, drinking, and dancing that can last well into the next day. (Tip: if you are having a full Catholic Nuptial Mass, it should be indicated on your invitations.)
Speaking of feasting, food is of paramount importance for any Italian special occasion. Food has strong associations with family and togetherness in Italy, so of course at a wedding reception, everyone will want to mange. The wedding dinner often consists of up to fourteen courses, followed by cake with espresso and coffee (to aid in dancing until dawn, no doubt). Whether your wedding is in the United States or in Italy, treat your guests to a proper Italian wedding feast. If your wedding is in America, a wonderful way to honor your Italian ancestry would be to serve the dishes that are the specialty of the region from which your family hails. Skip generic Italian-American dishes in favor of true authentic Italian cuisine.
The Italians have some very charming pre-wedding traditions that any American bride would love. It is customary for a young man to serenade his beloved with music before proposing marriage (if he is tone deaf, he can bring along friends to help out). How romantic is that? Also incredibly romantic is the reason that Italians give diamond engagement rings: they believe that diamonds are created by the flames of love. Ladies, are you swooning yet?
As with any wedding, la sposa (the bride) is the center of the day. The wedding gown is very important to Italian brides, and they have a great variety from which to choose. Traditional long sleeve gowns are still seen for Nuptial Masses, but so are all manner of gowns from modern to fanciful. Simplicity is valued by some brides, but many love the fine laces and embellishments that are offered by designers. Since Italian lace is some of the finest in the world, it would be perfect for an Italian wedding gown. Veils are usually worn, as they were once thought to protect the bride from evil spirits. Italian women love jewelry, but there is a superstition that says a bride should not wear any gold on her wedding day until the groom gives her the wedding band. To play it safe, choose custom bridal jewelry handcrafted with sterling silver. Sparkling Swarovski crystals and lustrous pearls can be intertwined with the sterling silver to create fabulous custom bridal jewelry that is both unique and affordable.

Italian Wedding Traditions





Italian Wedding Traditions
Throughout Europe there is a long-standing tradition of offering a small gift or a bomboniera to each person or family who are guests at receptions given for special occasions, such as weddings, baptisms and anniversaries. Since the middle ages, sugared almonds (confetti) were used as part of the bomboniera. The tradition holds the confetti is presented to each person (or family) along with a special gift as recognition for their support and good wishes. Also, the bomboniera are sent after the celebration to those who were unable to attend, but sent a gift or card as a symbol of gratitude and appreciation.
Uneven (odd) number are considered lucky, therefore five (5) confetti are typically included in the bomboniera to represent health, wealth, fertility, happiness and longevity. More than five can be used if desired, always keeping to an uneven number. A bigliettino (little tag) or imprinted favor ribbon is attached with the date of the event along with names.
Traditional bomboniere (favors) are hand-made in Italy with silk, organza, tulle, ribbon and flowers. They can be filled with your choice of confetti - almonds, chocolates, or chocolate-covered almonds, and a beautiful bigliettino (little tag) from Italy is also attached in some way to the bomboniera.
Special, or more significant bomboniere, may be given to family members and friends who have played a special role in the celebration.In some families, a bomboniera(gift) of silver, crystal, or porcelain is also given as part of the tradition. Typical items include porcelain flowers from Capodimonte, silver bowls and crystal figurines.
Throughout the years, this tradition has been honored in Italian families. The bomboniere make the guests feel honored and important, but most importantly they have a memory that will always remind them of your special day.

Christian Wedding Traditions






Christian Wedding Traditions
A traditional Christian wedding not only celebrates the union between two people, but is also considered a sacred sacrament in the Christian faith. The ceremony generally follows a certain format and takes place in front of the couple's friends and family members in the presence of a priest or minister. Most Christian weddings take place in a church or religious building, however, it's not uncommon for some couples to choose an outdoor setting at a formal gathering place.
Before the ceremony begins, the groomsmen typically act as ushers and direct guests to their seats. Important family members - parents and grandparents, for example, are often escorted down the aisle to their seats by one of the groomsmen. The Best Man and Groom are often in a private room or secluded area and it's the Best Man's job to try and keep the Groom calm and reassured.
The Bride and Bridesmaids arrive at the ceremony location and wait, out of sight, for a cue to begin the Bridal procession.
Before the Bridal procession begins, the Groom, Best Man, and Groomsmen stand in front of the altar along with the officiating priest. This is usually a signal that the Bridal procession is about to begin so guests stand up and look to the back of the church in anticipation of the Bride's arrival. A processionary march is usually played and the Bridal procession begins.