Italian Wedding Dresses For You
In olden times a great deal of the Italian wedding traditions consisted of warding off evil spirits. The groom would be sure to have something iron on his person to ward off the evil eye. The wedding veil was for the purpose of warding off evil spirits they may try to attack the bride and tearing the veil after the ceremony was considered good luck. The bride was not to have a complete bridal gown until the wedding day. It was to remain incomplete until she walked down the church aisle. Presumably a final stitch was made somewhere on the dress at the entrance of the church. The groom would wait at the front of the church and present the bride with a bouquet of flowers and herbs, to ward off the evil spirits.
Italian Wedding Dresses
History of Italian Weddings
It is always interesting to study the history of weddings of different cultures. One can find that some of the old traditions have been carried forward to the current weddings.
In Italy, to this day marriages are not performed during Lent and Advent in May or August. Sunday was declared the best day for the marriage and June was (and is) considered the ideal month to marry. This is based on the Roman goddess Junio, representing safety of home, marriage, and childbirth.
In some families the marriages were arranged by the families of the bride and groom. A male relative of the groom would visit with the father of the intended bride and ask for her hand in marriage. Sometimes a matchmaker was used to carry a message to the intended bride's family. Once an agreement between the families was reached, the couple was declared engaged.
The prospective bride was expected to immediately start gathering clothing (even for her future husband), furniture, and other items for the home. This became known as the bride's 'trousseau'. If the engagement ring contained gold it was not to be worn until she received the gold wedding band as it was seen as bad luck to wear gold without being married.
In olden times a great deal of the Italian wedding traditions consisted of warding off evil spirits. The groom would be sure to have something iron on his person to ward off the evil eye. The wedding veil was for the purpose of warding off evil spirits they may try to attack the bride and tearing the veil after the ceremony was considered good luck. The bride was not to have a complete bridal gown until the wedding day. It was to remain incomplete until she walked down the church aisle. Presumably a final stitch was made somewhere on the dress at the entrance of the church. The groom would wait at the front of the church and present the bride with a bouquet of flowers and herbs, to ward off the evil spirits.
At other times the groom would pick the bride up and walk her to the church. In this case a log and a saw would be placed in their path and they had to saw it into two pieces to show their union. If the bride walked to the church, without the groom, the local people often put things in her path such as a broom, beggar, crying baby. How she handled these items showed if she would be a good wife, mother, would be kind, etc.
In the ceremony the groom stood to the right of the bride, thus freeing his sword hand, just in case someone tried to steal his bride. Ten witnesses were required to make the ceremony official; hence the need for a large bridal party. They were dressed like the bride and groom to confuse the jealous spirits. The bride carried (and still does in most weddings) a silk or satin purse for guests to deposit their money gifts in as a way to help with the expenses. Another way money was raised was by the best man cutting the groom's tie into pieces and selling them to guests at the wedding.
Following the ceremony the bride and groom were pelted with almonds (in mesh bags), three for children and five to seven to promote fertility. In ancient times a loaf of bread was broken over the bride's head to represent fertility. At the end of the wedding the bride and groom broke a vase or glass into pieces with the number of shards representing how many years they would be married. Mothers-in-law sat at a table and kept a record of the repayment of favors or money which needed to be witnessed (this is still done in some of today's ceremonies)
Most of the ceremonies started with mass in the early morning, followed by music and dancing throughout the night. Food was, and is, a large part of the wedding. Thirteen or more courses were ordinarily served (a large meal is still served at today's weddings); this represented the union of the couple and their families.
It's amazing how many wedding traditions still remain even though they may have evolved somewhat to reflect today's society. Incorporating traditions based on heritage is often a good way to honor the old while celebrating the new.
Simple Wedding Dresses .3
How To Choose A Unique And Elegant Wedding Favor
Planning the wedding often get's left mostly to the bride, and that's okay because as a woman you've probably spent a lifetime envisioning this day - the dress, the ceremony, the reception, and of course that perfect unique and elegant wedding favor.
You might even have a folder that has unique wedding favor ideas in it. Now remember that some of those neat ideas that you clipped years ago today might not seem quite so elegant now, but you can always take one idea and combine it or change it to make your own personalized wedding favor.
The wedding favor is the small gift that you present to each of your guests. It's the souvenir of your wedding, which your guests get to take home. The wedding favor choices available range from treasured to tacky, and your choice all depends on your budget and your creativity. You can create a personalized wedding favor for each of your guests, or consider a unique wedding favor that's perhaps themed to your wedding.
Themed Favors are a great choice, especially if your wedding has a specific theme. For example, a beach wedding does well with an wedding favor such as a flip-flop keychain, or perhaps, more elegantly, a beach themed gift box with a personalized wedding favor inside. The more elegant wedding favor in the gift box could be a delicate dried starfish, some shells, or any other item that was beach orientated. Beach is used as the example because there are so many beach weddings occurring. However, it doesn't matter what your theme; you can easily make a personalized wedding favor for each of your guest.
Pirate weddings on the high seas, Las Vegas party weddings, or the new black and white wedding are just a few other examples of themed wedding that are going on that can easily have a unique wedding favor.
How elaborate your choose to make your themed wedding favors is up to you. How many favors you need and budget both will influence just how much you are going to spend on each favor. If you are creative, it's very easy to create a personalized wedding favor for each of your guests.
An article on favors wouldn't be complete without at least talking a little bit about inappropriate favors. Some brides and grooms mean well when their idea of an elegant wedding favor includes some romantic poem or a love song. We advise you to keep the romance for each other, and give your guests something they would like as a keepsake of your day.
You go to great lengths to choose your gown, your cake, your decorations, and even your guests. Why not use the same amount of energy to find a unique wedding favor that each of your guests will enjoy.
It's a beautiful and elegant day. Your look beautiful and elegant in your gown, your reception area is tasteful and elegant, so it just makes sense that each guest receive an elegant wedding favor that's traditional.
You can go simple with delicious handpicked candies that are monogrammed, or M&M's in the wedding colors with your name and wedding date on them. You can step it up a little with monogrammed scented candles.
Scented candles are a great way for your friends and family to remember the day. Small candles with a scent remembering your theme could be perfect. Think of a fresh ocean smell for your beach theme wedding.
If you really want your guests to be able to keep there personalized wedding favor for years to come do not use perishables. Instead, consider candles, picture frames, trinkets, flasks, and other interesting items. Pewter is popular because it makes an elegant wedding favor choice, and it is very affordable.
Your wedding day is very special and you want it to remain memorable for all that attend. One way to help keep those memories fresh is with an elegant wedding favor. What will you choose?
By Andrew Stratton
Favorite Wedding Dress.2
Choosing the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams
By Yolanda Nash
One of the biggest decisions for a bride is what dress she will wear as she walks down that aisle with everyone looking directly at her. Traditional American brides still where white gowns. The white no longer has the connotation that it once did, but it is still the traditional choice whether you are choosing a very elaborate gown or a simple, but elegant dress.
Choosing your dress for that big day should be done well in advance of the day. Whether you are buying your dress directly off the rack or having one custom made to enhance your figure, alterations will most likely need to be made and you must allow time for errors. There have been countless times that I’ve heard someone say that the alterations were not done correctly to their dress and they’ve had to take them back to get it corrected. Sometimes the bride to be has had to take her dress to be altered two or three times before it’s all said and done. Each alteration takes time; therefore, be sure to allow time for the worst case scenario so that you can be pleasantly surprised and prepared if you end up with only one alteration and time to spare before the big day.
Dresses come in all shapes, sizes, and decorative levels. There are simple dresses that flatter the shape of the bride to be. There are elaborate dresses that not only flatter her shape, but also adorn her body. There are dresses that make you feel elegant, yet still the bride and focal point of the event, and there are dresses that make you feel like a princess with elaborate decoration that further enhance the fact that this day is all about you. There are even pant suits in white for women that would rather not get all dolled up in the wedding gown. Whatever your tastes are, there is a dress for you. Be sure to visit all of the local dress shops before deciding on your dress. You may end up going back for the very first one you tried on, I know I did, but at least you’ll know you took a good look at what else was out there.
Many stores have wonderful financing options for the purchase of a wedding dress. If the price of your favorite wedding dress makes you fall over, it is still possible for you to get it. Many dress stores have financing options that will allow you to pay for your dress in installments. That can be done and paid for in a year’s time. If bought early enough, it can be entirely paid for before the event. Yet, if financing is not for you, there are a lot of sales on wedding dresses if you keep your eyes open for them. It’s possible to get a wedding dress relatively cheaply.
You are the star on the day of your wedding. You walk down the aisle while everyone stands and admires you. Your dress should make you feel proud and beautiful at this very important moment in your life.
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