Happily Ever After – 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 Shower

Courtney Dietz — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Bridal Shower

Asdis Spellmen

Your engagement season is a special time that you and your fiance get to spend together celebrating your love and relationship as you plan your wedding to celebrate your life long commitment to one another. This, generally, only comes once in your life and is a unique time filled with different ways to celebrate and anticipate your upcoming nuptials. One of those celebrations is the Bridal shower. The Bridal Shower is the party to not only congratulate the bride on her engagement but also to prepare her for married life and the couple living on their own.

Although it is less common for brides and grooms to have never left home until saying “I do” this tradition of the community and loved ones of the couple to “shower” the happy couple with gifts and needed items for their new life together. But this is typically filled with fun games, prizes, food, and fun company.

Games:

An idea for a fun game for the guests to play during the Bridal Shower is a Jeopardy style game with questions all about the couple or wedding traditions in general. Everyone plays and the game can get pretty spirited with the competition blooming in everyone, especially if there are prizes involved.

Food/Drink:

A self-serve mimosa bar would be a fun and classy addition to any bridal shower to offer an elegant addition to the food and beverages table. Ever since the craze of the charcuterie board started it has gripped society rather firmly and forever changed the landscape of the food table. Not only is that one option that can serve many people, but they often can cater to a wide variety of dietary restrictions so everyone can have a chance to enjoy it!

Whether you, dear reader, are the community member or friend of the bride and choosing to throw them a bridal shower, or you are the bride anxiously awaiting your chance to celebrate you and your fiance, the most important thing to remember is to have fun and get to celebrating!

Alternative Theme Ideas

Courtney Dietz — Thu, 23 May 2024 23:01:00 +0000

Having Your Dream Wedding

Ajna Hacker

Many Brides get so wrapped up in planning their wedding that they have a tendency to forget to consider having a theme. A theme can help to guide the look and feeling of your wedding that you want to convey. Here are three ideas for you to think about when planning your wedding!

Holiday:

A common thought process when planning a wedding is picking your date before planning your theme. Instead consider planning your wedding around a Holiday and let the date inspire what your decoration style will look like. If you choose to have your wedding close to Christmas, you could add a deep red, dark green, and gold in your wedding colors while adding subtle additions to your decor to add to the theme such as evergreen and pine as greenery. Or for our more alternative brides, you could plan your wedding around Friday the 13th. Some venues might offer discounts for the date due to the lack of popularity on those days. Leaning into the spookier side of things you might wear black and other dark colors. For decor you could add Victorian looking items to add a haunted yet classy look to it.

Regency Era:

For every Jane Austin fan out there, consider having your wedding themed after the Regency Era. This time period, although short, has the underlying connotation of romance due to the many love stories that have been set during this period. Choose a dress that has an Empire waist line, having pastel colors added in your wedding colors, and adding regal feeling decor items. If you want to go with the classic wedding cake, consider also having delicate desserts as well such as scones, petit fours, or even Turkish delight to add that feeling of delicacy.

Celestial:

Themes can be anything that you and your finance have an interest or enjoy. Adding subtle stars and moons into small details of your wedding can add to the celestial theme. Such as into your jewelry, or designs into your wedding dress, ties, pocket squires, veil, etc. There are even matching rings that fit into the theme. Hanging stars from the ceiling with fairy lights will give your guests the feeling that they are under the stars even while they are tucked away in the warmth of indoors. For this theme there are many options for you to choose from in terms of wedding colors. These colors are going to be darker in nature, such as purple, black, navy blue, and pink. Or if you would like to mirror the colors after the northern lights you could choose green, blue, a light purple, and pink.

Having a Fairytale Wedding

Courtney Dietz — Wed, 22 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Fairytale Themes in Your Wedding

Zay Burry

Having a fairytale wedding is a common theme that many couples consider when trying to decide what they want their wedding to feel like and look like. A fairytale wedding is a fairly ambiguous term, it very much depends on what type of fairytale you would like to embody during your wedding. Here are some examples of fairytale weddings to help inspire you!

Cinderella:

A classic and traditional for wedding themes due to her being one of the more classic princesses that comes to mind when you think of princesses. Choosing your wedding colors is an important place to start with the theme. With Cinderella having blues, silvers, and even a light pink color would be perfect colors drawing inspiration from the Cinderella fairytale. Adding elements into what the bride wears can further his concept as well. Having a choker style necklace, sleeves that have more puff to them, or having a bun updo that would be similar as well. The decor is going to be pivotal in creating that fairytale feel. Having decorations that have a regal feeling to them will be of the utmost importance. Something along the lines of candelabras with dinnerware that has a more elevated look. Speaking of dinnerware, finding classic looking china to add to that royal feeling at dinner is a great way to feel more Cinderella-inspired.

Peter Pan:

The story of Peter Pan, although it starts in England, the majority of the fairy tale takes place in Neverland. So in order to maximize the Peter Pan feeling, focusing on the Neverland aesthetic will be key. Since the Lost Boys live in the forest in a tree mimicking that feeling by having your wedding decorated as if it is in a forest will be an excellent place to start. For your wedding colors having an evergreen color, a light blue, and a dark chocolate brown. For decor items, having cut pieces of wood, lots of greenery, and flowers will help to make that forest feel.

Beauty and the Beast:

Another classic princess, so having an elevated regal feel is going to be imperative. Starting with the colors, again, gold, blue (either dark navy would work as well as a light powder blue), and maroon. Gold should be more of an accent color where you sprinkle it through your decor and wardrobe as opposed to a more prominent color in your theme. For decor items, having gold frames and mirrors, gold candelabras, again, and china would be on theme. Of course having a teapot or tea cups as table pieces would be a cute touch.

The History of Wearing White to Your Wedding

Courtney Dietz — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Ever Wondered Why We Wear White to Our Wedding?

Coco Dietz

Today you would be hard pressed to find a bride who chooses to not wear a shade of white on their wedding day. That tradition has been so deeply ingrained into many young girls let alone young brides minds that it is difficult for many of them to imagine wearing anything other than white to get hitched. Before the tradition began brides would simply wear their best dress to get married in.

Most brides could not afford the luxury of a new dress on their wedding day so the thought of color coordination would send many of them in a frenzy based solely on the cost that would add to the start of their marriage. Even more so, white was hardly considered to wear to be married in because that was the color more commonly worn to funerals for the time period. Just as many brides chose to stay away from black for the same reasons today, the brides would tend to stay away from white as to not bring death like energy into their wedding day. To more wealthy brides they would use the opportunity of their wedding day as an excuse to show off just how much wealth they actually had by adorning themselves with many family heirlooms and jewels.

Their dresses would be far from white, in fact many wealthy brides would choose to wear bright jeweled toned dresses. An impressive feat to behold due to the cost of the dyed material. The introduction of white into the traditional bridal fashion started, as many things do, by one very famous and important person doing it first. That person happened to be Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg back in 1840. Although she was only twenty years old when she was wed, she took her royal duties with grace, elegance, and maturity and wanted to convey that message in her appearance as well. So she chose a white wedding dress to hopefully portray herself as sensibly as possible.

Not only was this choice one with a message nodding to her new royal duties, but it was also a gesture of love toward her future husband. Queen Victoria also chose to forego the crown that would generally sit atop an elaborate hairdo and instead she wore a wreath of flowers. She chose to set aside the overly indulgent and opulent traditions that would generally be expected of a queen but instead just be a young woman marrying the man she loved and portraying to the world her purity and innocence in the color she chose to wear. Her choice to wear white was especially controversial for the time period not only because it was still a color associated with morning, but because most royals of the time chose to wear red on their wedding days. Even though that is difficult for us to imagine nowadays, the image of a bride clad in white to get married is so prominent in our minds.

Although Queen Victoria was not trying to set a precedent for other brides to adhere to more than a hundred years later, her choice quickly set a trend that other brides wanted to follow. Only nine years later a magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, stated in their issue “that white is the most fitting hue” also that white is an “emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.” They could have no way of knowing just how influential this would be for future brides. So much so that most brides do not even consider wearing a different color on their wedding day.

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.

Something Old Something New

Courtney Dietz — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:14:42 +0000

Something Old Something New

Coco Dietz

There are many traditions that brides can choose to either continue or pass on when planning their weddings. One of those traditions comes from the old English Poem where the poet tells their thoughts on what items the bride needs in order to pass along the happy, healthy, and fruitful marriage. Whether you want to follow all the traditions or might pick and choose the ones that intrigue you, here are some ideas on how to add Something Old and Something New into your wedding plans!

Something Old:

While much of what needs to be purchased and found for the wedding will be new items, there are many opportunities where you can instead supplement something old into your plans. The main point of adding the items that the poet talked of (see our article on the poem) is to add sentimental value to something that might be lacking in a personal connection. Consider asking a family member or perhaps a close family friend who was married previously to loan you their wedding dress, veil, or some other item. If your two styles do not match, consider going to a vintage shop or antique store with your fiance or maid of honor to look for a vintage piece of jewelry to wear on your wedding day.

Something New:

While the majority of the items that you will need will be new, again, remember to find something of sentimental value. The point of finding the five things that the poem talks about is not to make a checklist but instead find items that will represent the life that you two will be building together. Your wedding dress will indeed be new but consider getting a new bracelet that means something to the relationship that you and your fiance share. Or if a loved one was not able to be present due to illness or potentially death, maybe getting something new that honors their memory and your desire to keep them close to you on your big day.

Whatever you choose for your Something Old and Something New, just remember that it is more about who you and your fiance are as a couple as opposed to two individuals planning a party. Plan these items as a honoring of the love the two of you share and the hopes that you both have for the future.

Other than a Guest Book

Courtney Dietz — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 22:27:19 +0000

Other than a Guest Book

Coco Dietz

One of the most common themes throughout many new brides is the want to take traditions that are more old-fashioned and give them a fresh new life. One of these is the idea of a guest book. It’s not that the idea of having memorabilia to encapsulate who was there to celebrate your big day is the issue. No, it is more about giving the idea of a stall guest book a new and fresh take that brides can see in their day-to-day life or when looking back.

The Painting/Artwork:

Probably the most popular and most adaptable to fit into any taste or style that the couple may have, is the signing or addition to artwork or some item of decoration. These are meant to be hung up in the couple’s home to commemorate the festivities of the day as well as the well wishes of the guests who celebrated with them. This can be as simple as a sign cut into the shape of the bride’s new last name or as elaborate as everyone adding an element to a painting that was created by the guests as a whole. Whatever your idea is, it can add a unique and sentimental addition to your future household.

The Video Diary:

The most modern take on the traditional guest book is the video diary. Many couples choose to have a videographer in addition to the photographer so that they can have a well put together and clearly shot video of the well wishes of all of their loved ones. This can be a special way to commemorate moments at your wedding that just a picture might not be able to capture as well.

Leaving a Note for the Couple:

They have gone as far as to have writing prompts for the guests to fill out for the bride and groom to read later. Some might include, “Give some advice to the bride and groom for when they have their first fight.” or “What are your words of wisdom for the couple’s first year together?” There are limitless opportunities for your creativity to flow and let your guests have fun giving advice or even funny responses!

The most important part of the guest book is to, yes, to immortalize who was in attendance at your wedding but also to have fun and let who you and your future spouse are shine through tradition and into today.

Choosing a Photographer

Courtney Dietz — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 17:01:00 +0000

Choosing a Photographer

Alice Briggs

Choosing a photographer for your engagement and wedding photos is a crucial part of the planning process. You want to find someone who can capture the essence and emotions of your special day that is consistent with your personal style and vision. Here are some steps to guide you through this process:

Determine Your Style: Wedding photography comes in various styles, such as traditional, photojournalistic, editorial, or a mix. The traditional style is more posed, while photojournalism captures candid moments. Editorial style is similar to what you’d see in magazines, with a focus on high fashion type shots. Look through different photographers’ portfolios to see which style resonates with you.
Budget Consideration: Before you research photographers, decide on your budget. The cost can vary significantly depending on the photographer’s experience, the length of coverage, number of photographers, and extras like albums or engagement sessions.

Research: Look at the websites and portfolios of potential photographers. Check out their social media pages as well. Look at the reviews on wedding websites or ask for recommendations from friends and family. This should give you a sense of their quality of work, style, and professionalism.
Interview Prospective Photographers: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, set up meetings to discuss your wedding and ask questions. Ask about their experience, if they’ve shot at your venue before, backup plans in case of emergencies, and what’s included in the package.

Look at Full Wedding Albums: Don’t just rely on the highlights in their online portfolio. Ask to see full wedding albums to get a better idea of their comprehensive work, including the less perfect moments.
Personality Matters: You’ll be spending a lot of time with your photographer on one of the most emotional days of your life, so it’s crucial to pick someone with whom you have a good rapport. They should be able to make you feel comfortable and relaxed, not adding to the stress of the day.

Details and Contract: Once you’ve made your choice, be sure to read the contract carefully. It should include the photographer’s name, how many hours of coverage, the number of photographers, what’s included in your package (engagement session, albums, prints), when you’ll receive your images and how (online gallery, USB, etc.), cancellation policy, and any extra costs.

Book an Engagement Session: This can serve as a “test run” for your wedding day. You can get comfortable with the photographer and their shooting style. Plus, you’ll have a set of lovely pre-wedding photos.
Availability: The best photographers often get booked up quickly, especially during peak wedding season, so you’ll need to confirm their availability for your wedding date as soon as possible.

Consider the Venue and Lighting: If you’ve chosen your wedding venue already, consider the lighting there and discuss it with your prospective photographers. If your wedding is going to be in a dimly lit environment or outdoors in the evening, you’ll need a photographer who excels at shooting in those conditions.

Second Shooters/Assistant Photographers: Some photographers come with a second shooter. This can be beneficial as it offers different perspectives, more coverage and ensures important moments aren’t missed.
Delivery Time: How long will it take to get your pictures after the wedding? The time can vary from a few weeks to several months. Knowing this in advance will help set your expectations.
Post-production Details: Ask potential photographers about their post-production process. This includes information like how many images you should expect, whether you’ll receive raw or edited photos, and if the images will be high resolution.

Backup Equipment: It’s crucial your photographer has backup equipment in case something goes wrong with their primary gear. Equipment failure can happen, and a professional should always be prepared for this scenario.

Remember, the key to choosing the right photographer is finding someone whose style aligns with your vision and who makes you feel comfortable and confident.