Accessories – Weddings by Wendy Rose

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Courtney Dietz — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

A Sixpence in Her Shoe

By: Coco Dietz

We have traversed through Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Now here we are with the final piece of the poem, A Sixpence in her Shoe. With this final addition to the centuries old poem, you will get a better understanding of why we follow these traditions even today.

This final tradition in the series of traditions this poem outlines, is that of placing a sixpence in the Bride’s shoe on the wedding day. A sixpence is a type of coin, a type of British currency that has since been done away with, its worth was equal to six pennies. This coin was given to the bride on her wedding day, typically presented to her by her father, to be put in her shoe in representation of good fortune as well as good luck that is wished upon the couple in their newly married life. This miniature ceremony typically happened just before the bride promenades down the aisle to her new husband and new life.

Although this tradition is not nearly as common as the other parts of the poem, the bride’s who do adhere to this tradition replace the sixpence with a penny or another coin. Some even go as far as to track down a sixpence to have on their wedding day to follow the traditions of old. Even though this tradition is not as important to the day as some other traditions or even newer traditions that bride’s choose, some companies who specialize in shoes meant for the special occasion of the wedding day will come with a sixpence for the bride to add that extra special blessing for the bride.

One of the more common themes in brides of the 21 century, is the enmeshment of the old ways and the new. Of course with the changing of the years comes the changing of traditions, but keeping the old traditions alive is important to remember where we came from. The modern brides hold the importance of the old while also taking their own fun twist on their wedding. Whatever your wedding looks like, it is important that you find the kind of wedding that fits who you and your spouse are as well as what you want your marriage to look like.

Wedding Ring Styles

Courtney Dietz — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Wedding Ring Styles

Ashira Raddadash

Rings are a timeless classic that symbolize the eternal commitment that is made between the couple. It is a symbol that most Americans can spot easily with just a glance down to a person’s left hand. The classic style, however, of said ring changes with the fashion and the times. Here are some current classics, alternative options, fun additions to the tradition that you might enjoy, as well as a little history thrown in for fun!

Classic:

The term “classic” is subjective, what might be classic to us today at one time was not a classic. For instance, a classic wedding ring 150 years ago would have probably been a simple gold wedding band without any of our modern embellishments. Whereas cluster rings were what was considered to be a classic wedding style in the 1910s. Ever since the 1940s the classic has been a diamond ring. Ever since the advertisement from De Beers Diamond Co in 1947 that stated that “A diamond is forever”, people cannot get enough of them! As well as most brides will not even consider a different main stone alternative. Although the shape of the cut of the diamond will differ depending on the bride as well as trending styles. As for today the pear shape cut ring has grown in popularity within the last five years as well as the oval shape.

Tattoo:

Whether or not you and your fiance are more alternative, you might consider tattooing a wedding band on your left ring finger instead of wearing a ring at all. Some enjoy this alternative as it is a more permanent symbol as opposed to the ring that can be removed. This takes the anxiety away from either losing or having your ring stolen, because it is permanently attached to both you and your fiance! For the more creative, this also offers an opportunity for some more in depth customization of your rings that a traditional ring may not be able to offer.

Anniversary Rings:

Due to the decline in popularity of the stacking set, some choose to just keep their engagement ring as both their wedding “band” and ring all in one foregoing the wedding band altogether. A fun idea that some brides are choosing is getting different bands to stack with their engagement ring when they reach important milestones in their relationships. Starting with the engagement ring and then adding a simple ring to the stack on, perhaps, their fifth anniversary.

Whether you choose to have the traditional forever diamond, getting a stack over the course of your marriage, or getting it inked on your finger, the symbolism of this ring is what truly matters. The infinity of the circle symbolizes that love that you and your future spouse share that cannot be broken.

Bridal Traditions from Around the World

Courtney Dietz — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Bridal Traditions from Around the World

Kara Hyden

When it comes to wedding traditions, most of us in America know what we expect to see. Traditions like tossing the bouquet, lighting a unity candle or observing a sand ceremony, eating bites from a groom’s cake or hearing what the bride included in her “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”.

Other countries around the world have wedding traditions and rituals as well. Some you may have heard of, thanks to movies like, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ or, some you may have observed in person or pictures, depending on your family or heritage. Read on as we explore some of the bridal traditions from around the world.

Mexico

In Mexico, couples may include a lasso during their ceremony. The wedding lasso is made of rosary beads and flowers and is draped around the shoulders of the couple in a figure eight. The shape of the figure eight represents the infinity symbol, which signifies the couple’s union and the potential length of the marriage. The lasso can also be wrapped around the couple’s hands to symbolize their commitment to each other and the idea that their lives are now intertwined.

Armenia

In Armenia, when the bride and groom enter the reception, typically held at the groom’s house, they first break a plate for good luck and then are given lavash (bread) and honey by the groom’s mother. The lavash is balanced on the shoulders of the couple to ward off evil and then they eat spoonfuls of honey to symbolize happiness.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, when newlyweds arrive at the groom’s home, it’s a tradition that the groom’s mother breaks a white ceramic bell filled with grains, like rice and flower, to bring prosperity to the couple.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, before a bride and groom tie the knot, an infant is placed on the couple’s bed to bless and enhance their fertility. Once the couple has wed, guests shower them with rice, peas or lentils, which also promotes fertility.

The Philippines

The Philippines has several traditions that brides and grooms incorporate into their wedding. After tying the knot, happy brides and grooms release a pair of white doves—one male and one female—into the air. The birds are said to represent a harmonious life together for the newly married couple. Another tradition includes a cord and veil, which represents the couple’s oneness in marriage. And finally, there’s an exchange of 13 coins, known as arras. The coins are a symbol of the couple’s commitment to provide for each other throughout their married life.

Norway

One of the traditions in Norway says that brides that wear an ornate silver and gold crown with small charms dangling around it will ward off evil spirits.

China

The Chinese have a few traditions including the bow and arrow ceremony. The prospective husband will shoot his bride with a bow and headless arrows three times, then collect the arrows and break them during the ceremony to ensure everlasting love. There’s also a tradition known as carrying the bride. The bride’s family will hire a “good luck” woman to take care of the bride as she travels from her home to her groom’s home in an elaborately decorated sedan chair. The bride’s other attendants will shield the bride with parasols and toss rice at the chair, as the rice is a symbol of health and prosperity.

Scotland

In Scotland, a quaich ceremony is held for the newlyweds. A quaich, also known as the Scottish cup of love, is a toast reserved for the bride and groom featuring a two-handled cup. The pair exchanges sips, each taking a turn to serve the other. It is said that this symbolic act encapsulates the unity of the bride and groom’s family.

Cambodia

In Cambodia, the Gaat Sah is a unique and notable wedding tradition. The ceremony involves a few strands of hair being cut from both the bride and groom’s heads as a symbol of saying goodbye to their old life and embracing their new marriage.

Thailand

During a traditional Thai wedding ceremony, the couple will be joined together by a white thread to symbolize their union. They will also receive a water blessing as water is poured over their hands at the wedding.

Greece

In Greece, placing a lump of sugar inside the bride’s glove is said to ensure a sweet life, and adding a gold coin to the inside of her shoe will bring good financial fortune. Iron is said to ward off evil spirits throughout the day, so the groom will put a piece of iron in his pocket. Another interesting symbol of good luck for Greek couples is that they only invite guests in odd numbers and the number of attendants in the wedding party are odd numbers because odd numbers cannot be divided.

Germany

Following the wedding ceremony in Germany, the newlyweds walk over a trail of fir branches that epitomize their fortunate and fertile future, and then complete baumstamm sägen, a ritual where they join forces to saw a log in half. By sawing the log in half as a team, it is believed they are proving their ability to work together in overcoming tough obstacles.

Wedding traditions come in many forms and fashions. Most can depend on your nationality and heritage or can be whatever you want to incorporate into your special day. Whether your tradition is to jump the broom after you’re married or bury the bourbon before the wedding, whatever it is, it’s your wedding, make it your very own.

Something Borrowed Something Blue

Courtney Dietz — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 23:21:00 +0000

Something Borrowed Something Blue

Coco Dietz

The Poem “Something Old Something New…” has continued to set a precedent in Weddings that are happening today. Although many Brides do not know the original meanings or intentions behind the beautiful words, they continue to hide away a sixpence in their shoes as their something blue peeks out in their lovely sea of white.

Something Borrowed:

When borrowing an item from someone they usually imply that this someone has been married previously and, hopefully, with a loving and successful relationship. Typically this person is an older family member such as mother, grandmother, aunt, or perhaps an older cousin. They believed that this borrowing would transfer the good fortune of the older bride to the newly weds so that they would have a happy and prosperous marriage, generally referring to the offspring that would come as a result of most marriages. Commonly they exchange undergarments of some kind to transfer the fertility to the newlyweds to ensure a fruitful marriage. It is far more common these days for the former bride to lend a piece of jewelry or something else small to the bride to adore on her big day. Although the items that were exchanged may alter from the centuries past the idea still lingers in many brides minds today.

Something Blue:

The beautiful tradition of adding a small embellishment of something blue to all encompassing white that covers the rest of you is a tradition that first started out of a tradition but one that led into specific items being created just for that one piece of blue for you to wear. Although this tradition has stuck around more than the four that are also in the poem, the origins of the blue have been lost to time by the majority of brides who adorn themselves with their blue items. The brides who wore blue in the Victorian times when this poem first came out, wore the blue to ward themselves against evil spirits. The blue is referencing the blue of the evil eye, so if the brides wore a bit of blue it was said to confuse said spirits and add to the health, longevity, and happiness of the couple. Since most dresses that brides choose to wear these days are quite long, some brides choose to wear blue shoes to keep to the tradition. While other brides choose to wear some blue in their masterfully put together hair, such as a pin or flower to add to their flowing locks.