Bridal Party – Weddings by Wendy Rose

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!

History of Having a Flower Girl

Courtney Dietz — Mon, 20 May 2024 23:03:00 +0000

History of Having a Flower Girl

Myra Root

The tradition of having a ring bearer and flower girl in modern weddings is widely known. What is not widely known are the origins of why we carry on and honor these traditions. In our other article, History of Having Ring Bearers we looked back into the traditions of the little guy now we look towards the little girl.

In order to find the tradition of the role of the flower girl in the wedding we have to go back before brides were wearing white to the wedding, before there was ever something borrowed and something blue. No, we have to go back even further to find the origins of a flower girl all the way back, in fact, to the Roman Empire.

Back then flower girls would carry shafts of wheat and bundles of herbs to bless the newly weds with fertility and prosperity. The most notable difference however is in the one who was considered the “flower girl” back then was a woman who carried the herbs and wheat down the aisle. She was supposed to be one who had already had children so as to pass along her good fortune as well as fertility in bearing children to the newlyweds. This tradition was not one that was common in the lower classes; this was primarily done in the wealthier families due to their desire to pass along their titles and wealth to the next generation.

During the Elizabethian Era this tradition altered for the new viewpoints on weddings and what the bride should be in order to be wed. During this time it was imperative that the bride be chased before being wedded. Her purity was of the utmost importance, so the flower girl was to reflect that purity. The flower girl was supposed to represent the bride before she was wed, pure and innocent. Just as the white that women chose to wear centuries later would reflect the same concept. It was during this time that the little girls would instead dispearce flowers to represent fidelity and luck for the happy couple.

Today flower girls are just a sweet incorporation of the younger family members into the weddings of their older relatives. Although the meaning of the flower girls has been lost to the vast majority, it is always important to ask why we choose to carry the traditions that we do and reflect on where we came from.

The History of Having a Ring Bearer

Courtney Dietz — Mon, 20 May 2024 23:00:00 +0000

History of Having a Ring Bearer

Myra Root

In direct contrast to the origins of the Flower Girl the origins of the ring bearer were uncertain. The following two theories are the most common.

First, in ancient Egypt, they had a custom where they would have someone carry jewels and treasures on a pillow during celebrations. This was to show the wealth and might of those who they were celebrating or of the host of the weddings wealth. The main difference between Ancient Egyptians’ display of wealth and our modern tradition is that their person who was the “Ring Bearer ” was an adult while ours today is a child, generally someone who is either close to the Bride or Groom or related to them.

The second theory on the origins of the ring bearer dates back to medieval times. Tradition at the time was to have a young boy, called a pageboy, carry the bride’s train as she walked down the aisle while also holding a book of prayers. The rings were carried on the tips of swords instead by someone else parading down the aisle for the ceremony.

Closer to what our modern take on the ring bearer began comes from the Victorian Era. It became customary during this time for the little ring bearers to have a specific dress attire that was worn. It was common for them to be dressed in little trousers, velvet vests, and rolled collared shirts. They would carry the rings on a small pillow. Very similar to what we commonly see today in modern weddings.

Although the origins of the tradition of ring bearers are uncertain, no one can deny their popularity today. Just as with the flower girls, it is a sweet way of incorporating younger family members into the happy couples big day.

Wedding Gifts to the Bridal Party

Courtney Dietz — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Wedding Gifts to the Bridal Party

Ashira Raddadash

It is common for brides to give sweet personalized gifts to their bridal party to thank them for standing up there with her on one of the most special days of their lives. That is all well and good, but it can be a headache to come up with what to get these girls who mean so much to them. Here are some ideas to get you started that you and your bridal party will love!

Robes:

Modern brides love to take pictures not just when they are perfectly put together and ready to walk down the aisle, but they now adore having pictures of them all getting ready as well. A popular gift for your bridesmaids is uniform robes to wear while getting ready. Not only is this a sweet gift for the bridesmaids to get to use even after the wedding, but it makes a much more clean look for those pictures of everyone getting ready. Because of this popularity, many companies offer robes with Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor on the back.

Jewelry:

Many women love anything personalized. For people who have uncommon names, it can be difficult growing up and seeing a lack of items that have your name on it. Luckily, there are many shops and companies that offer personalization options for multiple types of jewelry. Not only are you giving them a gift that is unique to them, but you are also giving them an item that they can wear for the wedding as well. Whether it is a ring with their initials on it or a necklace with their name and birth flower on it, it will touch their heart. Wondering where you might find these personalized options? Try Etsy, they have many shops that offer several unique options that you’ll find nowhere else.

Tumblers:

I do not know if you can find someone who would not love to have a cute tumbler or cup. No matter how many we may have in the cupboard, we crave more to add to the collection. What you do not find as often is finding a tumbler with your name on it or with a cute picture of you and the bride on the side.

Personalization is the overarching theme in modern bridesmaid gifts. You can go down to any store and pick up something generic and call it a day. Or you can plan ahead and give your girls a gift that they will love using until it falls apart.

The Best Gifts to ask your Bridal Party with

Courtney Dietz — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The Best Gifts to ask your Bridal Party with

Kristin Rodin

They popped the question, and you said “Yes!” Now it’s your turn to propose – to your bridesmaids! Whether you’re putting together gift boxes or looking for one big asking gift, here are four custom favors your bridal party will love.

Monogrammed luggage tags

If you’re planning a destination wedding, this one’s for you! Luggage is the most important – and most stressful – part of traveling, but you can make it a little easier for your friends and family with monogrammed luggage tags! Available in a variety of colors and styles, these are the perfect way to ask your bridal party to come on a journey with you!

Personalized PJ’s

Set your bridesmaids up for comfort with a personalized set of PJ’s! These are a highly customizable option – giving you plenty of options to choose from – and are another great long-lasting favor. Pair them with a coffee mug, slippers or self-care kit, and your bridal party will be well-rested for your celebration!

Custom wine labels

Whether you’re hosting a girl’s night in or throwing a lavish party, wine and sparkling beverages are a popular choice to entertain with. For a subtle but tasteful bridesmaid proposal, consider custom wine labels! Able to fit traditional wine bottles or alcohol-free alternatives, these are an affordable option available on several websites.

Gemstone jewelry

Who doesn’t love to get blinged out? Let your girls know how precious they are with a piece of gemstone jewelry. Gemstones have special meanings, so choosing a unique piece for each member is a great way to showcase your friendship and love. Whether you choose a raw or polished stone, bracelet or necklace, these timeless pieces will hold fond memories for years to come.

Everyone loves a personalized gift, and with these unique favors, only one word will come to your bridesmaids’ minds: Yes!

The Best Gifts to ask your Bridal Party with

Courtney Dietz — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Wedding Shower Do’s and Don’ts

Alice Briggs

A Guide to Planning the Perfect Celebration

Wedding showers are a pre-wedding celebration that traditionally involved the bride, her female friends and family, and gifts to help the couple set up their new home. However, as weddings and societal norms have changed over time, so too have wedding showers. Here are some “do’s and don’ts” to keep in mind when planning or attending a wedding shower:

DO:

Invite the right people. Traditionally, wedding showers were only for women, but now it’s common to include men and even couples. Be sure to invite anyone who is important to the bride or groom, regardless of gender.
Make it clear what the shower is for. Is it a kitchen shower? A lingerie shower? Be sure to let guests know what type of gifts to bring, or if there is a registry for them to follow.
Be considerate of the bride and groom’s preferences. Some couples may not want a shower at all, or may have specific requests for the event. Be sure to check in with them before planning anything.

DON’T:

Make it a surprise. While surprise parties can be fun, a wedding shower should not be a surprise to the bride or groom.
Make it a “gift grab.” A shower is not the time to be restrictive when asking for cash or other gifts. It should be a celebration of the couple’s upcoming marriage and a chance for friends and family to spend time together. Give your guests some flexibility in gift giving options.
Overdo it with the games. While some lighthearted games and activities can be fun, don’t make the shower feel like a carnival. Keep the focus on the couple and the celebration of their upcoming wedding.

Overall, a wedding shower should be a fun and festive celebration of the couple’s upcoming nuptials. Keep in mind the preferences of the bride and groom, and focus on creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all attendees.