Engagement ring
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
World’s Weirdest Wedding Customs
All over the world, people practice numerous wedding customs that have been passed on through many generations. Although each has a long history of meaning and significance, many just seem strange and out of place in today’s culture. Check out some of the historical wedding customs that are still practiced today, much to the intrigue and wonderment of its audience. Blackening the Bride In the Scottish pre-wedding tradition of “Blackening the Bride,” The bride is taken by surprise and covered with foul substances, such as eggs, various sauces, feathers, and well you name it… The bride to be, officially blackened, is the then paraded around town, and of course a few pubs, for all to see. Filmed in Fraserburgh and Rosehearty, in the north east of Scotland in 2007. A bride to be is subjected to a traditional ‘blackening’, one of the strangest of all pre-wedding traditions. Broken Dishes, Kidnapping the Bride, and Log Sawing Broken Dishes A rather interesting German tradition involves shattering a large number of dishes before the wedding and having the bride and groom cleaned it up. It is believed that the action of cleaning up the mass collection of broken dishes, which the family and friends have worked so hard to make, will help prepare the couple for their new lives together. It might be a little destructive but everyone seems to enjoy themselves and like most customs, bring the couple good luck. Kidnapping the Bride In many small villages throughout Germany, friends of the bride and groom will kidnap the bride and hide her somewhere.The groom then has to search to find her. Of course the search always begins in the local pub, for obvious reasons, where the groom will invite everyone to join him in the search, after buying them all a drink. This ritual has been known to end badly. . . Log Sawing Log sawing is just another tradition that seems to really test the bride and grooms physical skills. After the couple are married, a log is positioned between two sawhorses where both the newlyweds must saw in half working together. This is supposedly a sign of how they will handle things together once they are married. Germans also wear their matching wedding bands on their right hands not their left. The couple in this first video obviously have some challenges to look forward to in married like.However, this bride and groom are going to live happy and in perfect harmony with one another. Mehndi, Steal the Groom’s Shoes, and the Coin Game Mehndi Indian weddings, which are traditionally multi-day affairs, involve many intricate ceremonies, such as “medhndi”, the practice of painting intricate patterns on the bride’s hands and feet. The idea is to make the bride feel like a princess as she is about to start a new life. As the video below shows, there is also a special dance and song associated with the Mehndi process. Stealing the Groom’s Shoes It might seem odd, but in this custom everyone is either out to steal the groom’s shoes or protect them. During the ceremony the groom has to remove his shoes prior to entering the alter to be married. Members of the bride’s family are obligated to try to steal the grooms shoes and will go to great lengths to do so. The groom’s family, on the other hand, must protect the shoes and they will also go to extreme measures in order to hide the shoes. If the bride’s family is successful in stealing the groom’s shoes, then the groom must pay whatever amount of money they request to get his shoes back. Coin Game Coins and other items are placed into a large bowl filled with red colored water tinted with sindoor. The newlyweds place both hands in the bowl in an attempt to retrieve a particular item. This is done repeatedly and the one who pulls out the most specified items is fated to be the ruler of their home. Coins and Kissing the Guests Coins in the Bride’s Shoes A silver coin from her father is placed in the left shoe, while a gold coin from her mother in the right shoe, ensuring she will never go without. Guest Kissers If the groom exits the room and is out of sight, the men line up to kiss the bride. Clanging Pots and Pans During this traditional prank, friends and family of the newly married couple gather in the evening and clang pots and pans, ring bells, and blow horns intended to startle and interrupt the couple. Upon hearing the noise, the newlyweds are to come out, still wearing their wedding attire, and provide their tormenters various refreshments. (source) Jumping the Broom African Americans embrace the “Jumping the broom” ritual. Its origin is a little vague, but its meaning is agreed as the beginning of the newlyweds creating their happy home. This “leap” into a new life (marriage as wife and husband is performed in the presence of families and friends. You can be as creative as you want when planning for this special ceremony. Couples celebrate this rich cultural heritage, irrespective of race, religion, and nationality. The most important thing is its significance; This ceremony can also be performed at an anniversary or a renewing of vows ceremony. (source) Iron, Veil, and a Shattered Vase When the wedding day came to an end, the newly married couple would shatter a vase or glass into many pieces. The number of pieces represented the expected number of years they would be happily married. Arras In Mexico, during the wedding the Groom bestows his bride a gift of 13 coins, or arras, representing Jesus and his 12 apostles. The coins are to be blessed by the priest and bear the groom’s promise to care for and provide for his wife. (source) Both Feet on the Floor In the old days of Ireland, couples dined on salt and oatmeal at the beginning of their reception: both the bride and groom would take three mouthfuls as a protection against the power of the evil eye. During the reception, when the couple is dancing, the brides feet must remain on the floor. It is said that Fairies love beautiful things and their favorite beautiful thing is a bride. If the bride was to have even one foot off the ground, then she could be swept away by the Fairies. It is bad luck for a bride, as well as anyone attending the wedding, to wear green at an Irish wedding. It’s also bad luck for a bride or the groom to sing at their own wedding. Of course that last one might have just resulted from a few too many weddings with bad singers…
If the bride goes to the restroom, all of the women at the reception line up to kiss the groom.
World Most Expensive Wedding Dress or Gown $12 Million Dollar
According the news The world Most Expensive Wedding dress ever made was never shown to the public. Wonder why? Because it is said that Vera Wang Created the most expensive wedding gown for Jeniffer Lopez. News reported J.Lo was supposedly to marry Ben Affleck but later both them can’t go along and finally break up and the creation of Vera Wang was never shown to public. There is no price mentioned but Vera Wang Said That dress is World Most expensive Wedding gown ever created. Sad but true… But hey, before Vera creation. There is another one Diamond Wedding Dress created for Jeweler Martin Katz and dressmaker Renee Strauss teamed up to create the most expensive wedding dress on record, featuring a stunning 150 carats worth of diamonds laced throughout the dress. The veil that is shown in the picture worn with the dress does sparkle, but it does not feature diamonds. Instead, the veil has some pretty rhinestones. But we figure, if you’re doing to drop $12 million on a dress, why not just have someone custom create a matching, diamond-laced veil? And while you’re at it, get some fancy diamond-studded shoes to add to the bling factor!
The dress hasn’t yet been sold, so if you’ve got your eye on it (as well as the $12 mil), Strauss and Katz would be more than willing to discuss a sale. Unlike other wedding dresses, this one will still have a high resale value after the wedding.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wedding Planning
If you want perfect wedding you must know why man should not plan a wedding!
Planning Checklist
Mark an "X" when the task is completed!!
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| Announce Engagement | |
| Select Wedding Date | |
| Hire wedding consultant/coordinator | |
| Determine type of wedding: location, theme, # of guests, formality, time of day | |
| Determine budget & how expenses will be shared | |
| Buy a daytimer to keep track of appointments & events | |
| Develop a record keeping system for payments | |
| Create an approximate # guest list | |
| Decide if you will be inviting children or not | |
| Select and reserve ceremony site | |
| Select and book Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi | |
| Select and book reception location | |
| Select and order bridal gown | |
| Determine colour scheme | |
| If ceremony or reception is at a home, arrange for any home improvements | |
| Obtain, passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents need for travel and/or marriage licenses | |
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| Select and book caterer, if needed | |
| Select and book photographer | |
| Select wedding party | |
| Give wedding party a list of their responsibilities | |
| Select and buy attire or bridesmaids & flower girl | |
| Select and buy attire for mothers of the bride and groom | |
| Select and book ceremony musicians | |
| Select and book live band or DJ for reception | |
| Select and book videography | |
| Select and book florist | |
| Register for your wedding gifts (this can be done sooner) | |
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| Schedule fittings for custom made bridesmaids gowns | |
| Arrange marriage prep-courses, if necessary | |
| Reserve rental items | |
| Select and book decorator | |
| Finalize an A and B list of guests | |
| Select and order invitations and other wedding stationary | |
| Set date, time and location for rehearsal dinner | |
| Select and book honeymoon night suite | |
| Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests | |
| Start planning your honeymoon | |
| Shop for your wedding gifts to each other | |
| Shop for your wedding gifts to your wedding party | |
| Shop for your wedding gifts to your parents | |
| Buy shoes, lingerie and accessories for the bride | |
| Buy shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids | |
| Select and order wedding bands | |
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| Take formal engagement picture | |
| Select and order wedding cake | |
| Order party favours/bombonniere | |
| Select and order decorations | |
| Purchase honeymoon attire and luggage | |
| Select and book wedding day transportation | |
| Start addressing your invitations | |
| Plan activities for out-of-town guests (optional) | |
| Go on trials and book wedding day hair and makeup. Bring your headpiece and wear a white shirt | |
| Obtain marriage license (expires in 3 months) | |
| Send out your invitations | |
| Select ceremony readers | |
| Select ushers to seat your guests | |
| Select guest book attendant | |
| Select your MC | |
| Mail invitations to shower | |
| Get photography permit, if needed | |
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| Maintain a record of RSVP's and early wedding gifts | |
| Maintain a record of shower gifts and send thank you's | |
| Purchase all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, etc. | |
| Select and reserve wedding attire for all gentlemen | |
| Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner | |
| Plan bridesmaid luncheon | |
| Select your something old, new, borrowed, blue | |
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| Finalize all food and beverages for wedding | |
| Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant | |
| Finalize all rehearsal arrangements | |
| Finalize all floral arrangements | |
| Final fittings for yourself and bridesmaids | |
| Make a wedding day itinerary | |
| Give a copy of the itinerary to your wedding party and vendors | |
| Finalize all details with all your vendors | |
| Decide order of receiving line and head table setting | |
| Contact guest that haven't replied | |
| Pick up wedding rings | |
| Give photographer a photo checklist | |
| Visit reception site for floor plan | |
| Create reception seating plan | |
| Give musicians a list of your music selection | |
| Inform attendants when and where to pick up attire | |
| Determine VIP seating for ceremony seating | |
| Print out seating cards | |
| Pick up honeymoon tickets | |
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| Give caterer/reception venue final tally of guests | |
| Pack of your honeymoon | |
| Wrap reception flavours/bombonniere | |
| Arrange mail collection while you are on honeymoon | |
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| Drop all wedding accessories and decor off at ceremony and reception locations | |
| Make sure you bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner | |
| Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day | |
| Pack over night bag for honeymoon suite | |
| Make sure wedding party has their itinerary | |
| Make sure gentlemen have black socks | |
| Go to church for rehearsal | |
| Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location | |
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| Most of the details will be on your wedding day itinerary | |
| Eat breakfast | |
| Pack anything remaining on your "To Bring" list in cars | |
| Make sure Maid of Honour has groom's ring and Best Man has bride's ring | |
| Make sure you have your marriage license, photo permit and Special Occasions Permit, if needed | |
| Put your engagement ring on your right hand | |
| Use your wedding day itinerary to get you through the day on some sort of trouble | |
| Remember to look around and soak in the views of the day you planned so long and hard for. | |
Friday, February 13, 2009
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