‘Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue And A Silver Sixpence In Your Shoe’. This age old tradition relates to what the bride has to wear. She must wear something old which is usually something handed down to her by her parent’s family. It could be something such as her mother’s pearls or her grandmother’s bracelet. She also wears something new, usually the wedding gown. It represents success and good fortune for the future. The bride must wear something which she has borrowed from another happy bride. It means the happy bride is passing on some of her good luck to the new bride. Something blue stands for faithfulness or the Virgin Mary. A silver sixpence on the bride’s left shoe is symbolic of wealth in the couple’s life in the future.

In earlier days, brides wore silver gowns. Elite brides started the trend of wearing white wedding dresses to represent purity. The first bride we have on record, to wear a white dress was Anne of Brittany. She wore it for her marriage to Louis X11 of France in 1499. This trend was started by her and since the 16th century, white dresses became popular with brides.

Parents usually insist that that the groom must not see the bride in her wedding dress until she walks down the aisle. The bride must not try out the entire wedding set, dress and accessories, until the actual wedding day. Another custom says the bride must not make her own wedding dress. Going against these beliefs may bring ill luck. The veil is said to signify modesty. The groom usually lifts the veil at the end. If the bride lifts it herself, she is considered too independent.

Most of these customs are based on folklore. We follow them more because it has become a tradition. Moreover, when the man and woman enter into wedlock, they would like to express their feelings in as many charming ways as possible. When the couple is so in love, parents and other near and dear ones want to ward off all evil spirits and bless them with happiness and fertility. Even the most modern families succumb to these sentiments and try to follow the customs that couples have been doing for years. These customs are here to stay and they add to the joy that a wedding brings. Make them your own, live those emotional moments and become one with your spouse.

Weddings are occasions for every couple to express their sentiments. Families also like to follow all the traditional and sometimes quaint customs that have been around since ages. Certain customs remain within families but there are many which have spread beyond the continent of origin.

‘Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue And A Silver Sixpence In Your Shoe’. This age old tradition relates to what the bride has to wear. She must wear something old which is usually something handed down to her by her parent’s family. It could be something such as her mother’s pearls or her grandmother’s bracelet. She also wears something new, usually the wedding gown. It represents success and good fortune for the future. The bride must wear something which she has borrowed from another happy bride. It means the happy bride is passing on some of her good luck to the new bride. Something blue stands for faithfulness or the Virgin Mary. A silver sixpence on the bride’s left shoe is symbolic of wealth in the couple’s life in the future.

In earlier days, brides wore silver gowns. Elite brides started the trend of wearing white wedding dresses to represent purity. The first bride we have on record, to wear a white dress was Anne of Brittany. She wore it for her marriage to Louis X11 of France in 1499. This trend was started by her and since the 16th century, white dresses became popular with brides.

Parents usually insist that that the groom must not see the bride in her wedding dress until she walks down the aisle. The bride must not try out the entire wedding set, dress and accessories, until the actual wedding day. Another custom says the bride must not make her own wedding dress. Going against these beliefs may bring ill luck. The veil is said to signify modesty. The groom usually lifts the veil at the end. If the bride lifts it herself, she is considered too independent.

Most of these customs are based on folklore. We follow them more because it has become a tradition. Moreover, when the man and woman enter into wedlock, they would like to express their feelings in as many charming ways as possible. When the couple is so in love, parents and other near and dear ones want to ward off all evil spirits and bless them with happiness and fertility. Even the most modern families succumb to these sentiments and try to follow the customs that couples have been doing for years. These customs are here to stay and they add to the joy that a wedding brings. Make them your own, live those emotional moments and become one with your spouse.

Exchanging rings is a very important ritual in a wedding ceremony; you could include children as ring bearers or make other arrangements. Choose children from the family, as they will enjoy the importance given to them. You could otherwise use other alternatives to make your ring ceremony a special and memorable one.

Just as you invest time and money on the wedding festivities, invest in a good dance class. Do not wait until the last week, plan it well in advance. Who knows, the groom may have two left feet and may need a few extra lessons. Start with basic waltzing. Learn to hold each other properly and take small steps at a time. The duo must learn to move in tandem and with grace. The song and steps may be simple but must be well coordinated. Rehearse until you feel confident of dancing in front of a crowd.

Once you are confident with the basic steps, move on to the complicated jive or cha cha cha . It is better to avoid raunchy and bolder dances with an audience observing your every move. Of course these days, couples who are sure of themselves may dance the Salsa sensuously and boldly, perhaps towards the end.

Learning to dance well with your loved one is always a pleasure. You will also get to know your partner better. Your dance may be the highlight of your wedding day. Grab the opportunity to sizzle on the dance floor. You can only do that if you not just learn the steps, but practice with each other and even more important, practice to the song that you have decided on. The first dance is also the beginning of your married life – so start off as you mean to go on – together, moving in harmony, in time to the music.

The Meaning Of Marriage:

The word ‘wed’ is derived from the Greek word for “pledge” and that’s exactly what a marriage is. To wed is to pledge yourself to your spouse for ever.

 The Kiss:

Almost all over the world, the wedding ceremony ends with the bride and groom kissing each other. This tradition transcends all cultures and symbolizes the physical union of souls.

Tying The Knot:

The expression dates back to the Roman times. The bride wore a girdle which her mother tied up in a knot. On the wedding night, the groom had the honor of untying it and becoming one with his bride. Their lives were then tied together.

The Wedding Gown:

                        The first bride to wear white was Anne of Brittany for her marriage to Louis X11 of France in 1499. Since then, many brides wear white. In early Roman times, white signified joyful celebration. Today, white signifies purity and happiness.

The Ring:

Christians traditionally believed that the priest arrived at the third finger on the left hand when he touched his thumb to his fingers and prayed  ”in the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost”. Egyptians believe that the vein of the ring finger, vena amoris runs directly to the heart. The ring is a symbol of eternal love.

The Veil:

In earlier days, the bride stood underneath a canopy to signify that she was underneath the protection of her husband. In some cultures, the groom, who had never seen his bride before, would lift the veil only after the wedding and then see his bride’s face. A bride who lifted the veil on her own would be considered highly independent. These days the popular belief is that the veil protects the bride from evil spirits.

Loud Noises:

To ward off the evil spirits, guests used to make loud noises even during the ceremony. These days it is common for the wedding party to honk their car horns while leaving the venue. Some people tie noisy tin cans to the back of the bridal couple’s car to add to the noise.

Dressing Alike:

Legend says that earlier the bride and groom used to walk to church. On the way evil spirits would torment them. If the couple’s friends dressed in attire similar to the couple, the spirits would be confused about the identity of the bride and groom and would leave them alone.

Throwing Confetti:

This tradition originates from an ancient Pagan rite of throwing grains upon the couple to bestow the gift of fertility to the couple.

The Cake:

Cutting the wedding cake was once the responsibility of the bride. It symbolized the bride’s loss of virginity. Now the cake is regarded as a symbol of fertility and the couple cuts it together.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue:

            This dates back to the Victorian times. The complete rhyme goes ‘Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, And a silver sixpence in your shoe.’ Something old is something the bride wears which bears a link to her parent’s family. Wearing something new symbolizes success and good luck. The bride also wears something borrowed from another happy bride. Blue stands for fertility. A silver penny in the bride’s left shoe represents wealth.

The Wedding March:

When the bride walks down the aisle, the music from Richard Wagner’s opera ‘Lohengrin’ is played. Felix Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March’ sees the couple make a getaway. Victoria, eldest daughter of Britain’s Queen Victoria selected these pieces for her wedding and ever since, the tradition has continued.

So all you lovely couples, embrace these traditions, they’re charming.

The groom’s family usually hosts the rehearsal dinner. But even the bride’s family or any close family member or friend could host the dinner. Often both families plan the venue, the guest list and menu together. Even if the brides family hosts the event, involving the groom’s family is considered polite and gracious.

Generally, the couple and their families and other close friends attend the dinner. Out-of-town guests who have come only for the wedding must be invited. Some people invite the clergyman who will play an important role in bringing the beautiful couple together. It is best to keep this a simple and quiet family affair as the wedding and reception will be bigger and expensive affairs.

Most people believe that a tinkle is sufficient to invite guests to a rehearsal dinner. Generally, it is not a very formal affair. However, some brides with a penchant for ceremony prefer a black tie dinner with formal invitations sent by mail. The invitation may be worded in this fashion:

Please Join us for a Rehearsal Dinner
in Honor of (Bride’s Name) and (Groom’s Name)
at (this location)
at (this time)

RSVP: (Host’s Name) at (phone number)

 A grandiose venue is not required for a rehearsal dinner. You could even host it at your home or club. There are a lot of people hosting these pre-wedding dinners at private rooms in restaurants or smaller banquet halls. A cozy barbeque would also suit the occasion. It isn’t a good idea to have the dinner at some farm or restaurant which is very far and inconvenient to reach. If the venue is far, a proper map with directions to reach there is a must so that no guest is going around in circles, especially the out-of-town guests. It would be better to arrange for somebody to pick up the out-of-town guests.

The host generally, raises a toast to the ecstatic couple. There is jovial bonhomie and everyone drinks to the health and happiness of the couple as well as others who deserve to be honored. The dinner can be casual or formal, depending on the couple and their families. The food is important but not as important as the exchange of banter. If the wedding is early the next day, it is better to wind up the rehearsal dinner in good time so that the bride catches up with her beauty sleep.

The rehearsal dinner is the right time to give out gifts to the guests. They could also use the opportunity to thank the guests for coming to their wedding. There could be a few emotional moments when the bride and groom thank their parents and others. Hugs, tears and kisses often make this dinner a sentimental occasion.

All in all, it’s a great idea to have a rehearsal dinner. The wedding party relaxes and mingles. The bride gets a chance to unwind and get over her pre-wedding blues. It’s a happy event indeed!

The wedding guests are very important even if they attend the ceremony as mere spectators. Sometimes these guests become important participants at the wedding ceremony. You could ask your wedding guests for a promise of support and involve them in the ceremony just the same way parents give their children into marriage or may seek the participation of their children in their own wedding vows. Make sure to discuss the participation of your wedding guests with the person conducting the ceremony as this is entirely up to you.

Sometimes it is the personal choice of the bride and the groom to have a special prayer, song, reading or poem as a part of their wedding ceremony. You could talk to the older family members about this and decide if you want any thing special included in your ceremony.

Wedding rituals hold a lot of significance. Different couples like to do different things and you’ll find that most of the people who conduct the ceremonies are open to this kind of thing. Lighting of candles, receiving blessings and honoring parents are different rituals that many couples like to do as a part of their wedding ceremony. Discuss this with your wedding officiant and make all the necessary arrangements that are required to include a wedding ritual in your wedding ceremony.

Also make sure to discuss the attire of your wedding officiant. Some wedding officiants are comfortable wearing business suits to perform wedding ceremonies. Make sure that your wedding officiant looks elegant and he is satisfied with what he is wearing.

Exchanging rings is a very important ritual in a wedding ceremony – you could include children as ring bearers or make other arrangements. Choose children from the family, as they will enjoy the importance given to them. You could otherwise use other alternatives to make your ring ceremony a special and memorable one.

There are other twists to this traditional ceremony and here are a few suggestions. 

In smaller weddings all the guests can be included in the candle lighting ceremony.  Each guest can be given a candle on arrival.  After the couple has lit the unity candle, the guests can come forward and light their own candles from the flame of the unity candle, thus involving the guests in the ceremony and symbolizing the joining of friends and family with the union of the married couple.

Involving family and friends in a candle lighting ceremony for a large guest list is not prudent.  However, the candle lighting can be done at the reception.  The tables can have votive candle holders and guests are given votive candles as they file into the reception.  The large votive candle from the church is placed at the entrance of the reception area and guests light the candle, take it to their tables and place them on the votive candle holder.  The votive candle holder can be coordinated to the wedding theme and colors.   A pretty votive candle could also double as a wedding favor.

Some couples tend to cut short on lengthy wedding ceremonies and often cut out the unity candle lighting ceremony.  The unity candle in this case could be lit at the reception instead, right at the beginning or with a prayer prior to the main meal or even before cutting the cake.  In fact the unity candle could be made a part of the cake table decoration.  The candle can be a reminder of the new bond between the couple as the cake is cut and served to the guests.  In fact as the guests partake of the cake with the unity candle nearby, it sort of includes the wedding guests into this newly forged unity.

Lighting a unity candle is not a must but can make the wedding ceremony or the reception interactive and interesting adding a little twist to connect the couple and guests in a nice way.  So much planning and programming is involved in making a wedding go well that having a touch of something  unique as a part of the ceremony or reception can make it extra special for the couple getting married, to be remembered down the years.

Consuming alcohol at wedding receptions is very common and can affect how the toasts are given to the newlywed couple. Having the groom’s uncle give a toast when he is definitely under the influence of too much champagne could turn into a very embarrassing moment, not only for the bride and groom, but also for the uncle. He may not remember until the next day what he said in his toast, but once he does remember, he may not want to face his family and friends.

Some wedding planners suggest that each person at the reception be given the opportunity to offer a toast to the bride and groom. Depending on how large the group of family and friends at the reception is, that could be a lot of toasts and they could go through a lot of champagne. Maybe that is not such a good idea.

Even at alcohol free receptions, if there is a large group of family and friends present, it could become time consuming when passing the microphone around giving every guest a chance to toast. Whether or not that much time should be spent should be decided by the bride and groom when they are planning their wedding and reception so there won’t be any tension about it when the toasting starts.

Perhaps there could be a paper inside a table decoration with a number on it choosing one person at that table to offer a toast. Of course, there would have to be numbers at each place showing which person was being chosen. That method might cause resentment if someone else at that table wanted to give the toast and wasn’t given the opportunity.

Obviously, the best man and the maid of honor should be asked to give a toast unless they feel too uncomfortable speaking in front of the whole group. They should be asked ahead of time in private if they are willing to offer a toast. Other members of the wedding party who are at the main table should also be given the option of toasting the newlywed couple. Certainly the parents of both the bride and groom should not be left out of this activity if they desire to give a toast.

Whatever is decided, toasting should be full of laughter and leave the couple and their guests with happy memories of their time together.

Wedding toasts are to be expected and many take a lot of pains to prepare elaborate ones beforehand.  On the other hand, some are capable of delivering impromptu ones. Both express admiration, support and good wishes and are usually accompanied by a lot of good-humored ribbing and some even talk about special insights into marital harmony and the future of the couple.

It normally falls to the best man to deliver the main marriage speech.  After this is over with, the rest of the toasts begin.  This is an opportunity for other guests who had hitherto been just spectators to participate in the ceremony.  This process signals the end of the formal part of the proceedings and the beginning of the more relaxed informal part.

There is usually a method to the process which follows some family tradition, irrespective of whether the ceremony itself has been formal or a casual one.  Toasts are proposed when all the champagne flutes have been filled.  Toasting is done by raising the glass in the right hand carrying it straight out from the shoulder.  This tradition goes back to ancient times when this was a way to demonstrate that the one giving the toast did not have any concealed weapon and had only good intentions.

Again going back to ancient times, the clinking of the glasses, similar to the sound of ringing bells, and loud merry making was to ward off evil spirits during an auspicious occasion.

The origin of the word toasting has an interesting history.  The French used to place a slice of bread at the bottom of the glass to absorb sediments of wine.  A good toaster was one who could drink “right down to the toast”.  It has changed over time, to the current practice of drinking to someone’s happiness, health or prosperity or all three. During weddings, they are offered to wish the bride and groom congratulations and good fortune.

 
It is however improper for the bride and groom to raise their glasses when the toast is being raised, as they are the ones being honored.  They should simply take a sip each, after each toast.  Everyone else will however raise the glasses.
 
Tradition demands that toasts are raised during the rehearsal dinner, the marriage reception or on both occasions.  It normally follows the meal or immediately after the cake has been cut.