When it comes to weddings, there are so many superstitions and beliefs around. Here are some of the most common ones.
Proposing and Engagement
A woman should only propose to a man during a leap year, otherwise itendangers the marriage.
Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
It is bad luck for the bride to remove her engagement ring before the day of her wedding.
Stag parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers, who kissed their bachelor days goodbye with a raucous party.
It is unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname begins with the same letter as hers: To change the name and not the letter, Is to change for the worst and not the better.
Buying the engagement and wedding rings at the same time is thought to bring bad luck.
Wearing the wedding ring before the ceremony is also considered bad luck.
The Bridal Shower
The first gift the bride opens should be the first gift she uses.
The person who gives the third gift to be opened will soon have a baby.
The Wedding Day
It is considered bad luck if the groom sees his bride on the wedding day or see her in her wedding dress before she appears in church.
It is considered good luck if the bride is awakened by the song of a bird. Sunny weather is also a sign of good luck.
It is considered good luck for the bride to glance in her mirror just before leaving for the wedding but bad luck to return to look in her mirror after she has left the bedroom to start her journey to the wedding.
It brings more luck if the groom arrives at the church before the bride.
It's bad luck for the bride to start down the aisle on time but good luck to step into the church with her right food first.
Saying your vows when the hour hand on the clock is going upwards, makes you work together in your married life. If you say your wedding vows when the hand is going down, it is bad luck.
If the bride cries on her wedding day, those shall be the last tears she ever sheds over her marriage.
If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
It is considered bad luck for the bride to see a pig, hare or lizard running across the road, an open grave or to meet a nun or monk on her wedding day.
The best man should ensure the good luck of the couple by not allowing the groom to turn back for any reason after starting out for the ceremony.
Flower girls drop petals as they walk down the aisle is to ensure the new couple will have many chances to have children.
Carrying a horseshoe or a bouquet in the shape of one is considered lucky for the bride, but only if the horseshoe is carried with the open end up so the luck does not ‘fall out’.
The best man ensures the good luck of the couple by ensuring that the groom carries a small mascot in his pocket.
An old wives' tale is that if the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never landing a husband.
Certain days are better than others for a wedding. The Victorians believed that it was lucky to marry on a day during the week that the groom was born. The luckiest day to marry was on the groom’s actual birthday. And, oddly enough, Saturday was the unluckiest day of all for a wedding!
Wearing a garter is believed to bring good luck.
The woman who catches the bride's bouquet will be the next to marry.
The man who catches the bride’s garter will be the next to marry.
Throwing rice (or birdseed or confetti) as the couple leaves the church enhances their fertility.
Wedding Attire
The loan of a wedding dress means good luck to the borrower and bad luck for the lender.
A veil disguises the bride from evil spirits.
The bride (or her father) should put a coin in her shoe for good luck.
Dressing the bridesmaids is to fool the evil spirits, so they will not know who the bride is.
If the bride helps to make her own wedding dress, it will bring her bad luck.
It is considered good luck if the bride finds a spider in her wedding gown.
Wearing a pearl on the wedding day will bring bad luck and tears throughout the marriage.
The bride should not try on her complete outfit before the wedding day.
The brides’ attire should include "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" for good luck.
The Wedding Cake
The bride and groom cut the first slice of their wedding cake together to ensure that they will conceive.
The chief bridesmaid should keep a piece of cake in her pocket for the duration of the couple's honeymoon, if she hopes to marry soon.
Single female guests should take home a piece of wedding cake and place it under the pillow to dream of the man they will marry.
After the Wedding
Throwing rice (or birdseed or confetti) as the couple leaves the church dates back to ancient times and is meant to bestow fertility on the couple.
The new bride must enter her home by the main door, and must not trip or fall, as it is a bad omen if the bride should stumble. Hence the custom of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold.
It is said to be bad luck if the bride fails to remove and throw away every pin from her dress and veil when she changes out of her wedding clothes.
The first one of the couple to make a purchase after the wedding is said to be the dominant partner.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Wedding Traditions and Superstitions: Wedding Cake
The custom of having a wedding cake has been a part of wedding celebrations since the Roman times when a thin loaf was broken over the bride’s head during the close of the ceremony. The wheat from which it was made symbolized fertility and the crumbs were eagerly sought by guests as good luck charms.
Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couple make the first cut together to symbolise their shared future.
Cakes have been associated with weddings throughout history. The Romans shared a cake during the wedding ceremony itself. This was not the rich fruit-cake we enjoy today. It was a plain confection made from wheat flour, salt and water.
During the Middle Ages, wedding wheat loaves became sweet buns, and the guests were responsible for bringing some to the bride and groom as a gift.
The Fijians and Some Native American tribes still incorporate cake in the wedding ceremonies.
In Britain early cakes were flat and round and contained fruit and nuts which symbolise fertility.In the past the custom was to throw many small cakes over the bride in a similar way in which we throw confetti today. A modification of this custom was to crumble cake over the brides head and in some versions to break the cake over the Bride's head. In Scotland Oat Cakes were used for this purpose. This was done to promote fertility.
In Yorkshire a plate holding wedding cake was thrown out of the window as the bride returned to her parental home after the wedding. If the plate broke she would enjoy a happy future with her husband but if the plate remained intact her future would be grim.
Another old English custom was to place a ring in the wedding cake. The guest who found the ring in their the piece of cake would be ensured happiness for the next year.
The shape of the modern three tiered iced cake is believed to have been inspired by the spire of Saint Bride's Church in the City of London. It is said that unmarried guests who place a piece of wedding cake under their pillow before sleeping will increase there prospects of finding a partner and bridesmaids who do likewise will dream of their future husbands.
Nowadays, most people don't associate the wedding cake with having lots of children anymore, instead the wedding cake has become kind of a first meal for the bride and groom. Today's couples cut a slice before anyone else and feed it to each other, symbolizing the support they'll provide through their many years together.
The top tier of the cake is often kept by couples for their first anniversary or for christening of their first child.
Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couple make the first cut together to symbolise their shared future.
Cakes have been associated with weddings throughout history. The Romans shared a cake during the wedding ceremony itself. This was not the rich fruit-cake we enjoy today. It was a plain confection made from wheat flour, salt and water.
During the Middle Ages, wedding wheat loaves became sweet buns, and the guests were responsible for bringing some to the bride and groom as a gift.
The Fijians and Some Native American tribes still incorporate cake in the wedding ceremonies.
In Britain early cakes were flat and round and contained fruit and nuts which symbolise fertility.In the past the custom was to throw many small cakes over the bride in a similar way in which we throw confetti today. A modification of this custom was to crumble cake over the brides head and in some versions to break the cake over the Bride's head. In Scotland Oat Cakes were used for this purpose. This was done to promote fertility.
In Yorkshire a plate holding wedding cake was thrown out of the window as the bride returned to her parental home after the wedding. If the plate broke she would enjoy a happy future with her husband but if the plate remained intact her future would be grim.
Another old English custom was to place a ring in the wedding cake. The guest who found the ring in their the piece of cake would be ensured happiness for the next year.
The shape of the modern three tiered iced cake is believed to have been inspired by the spire of Saint Bride's Church in the City of London. It is said that unmarried guests who place a piece of wedding cake under their pillow before sleeping will increase there prospects of finding a partner and bridesmaids who do likewise will dream of their future husbands.
Nowadays, most people don't associate the wedding cake with having lots of children anymore, instead the wedding cake has become kind of a first meal for the bride and groom. Today's couples cut a slice before anyone else and feed it to each other, symbolizing the support they'll provide through their many years together.
The top tier of the cake is often kept by couples for their first anniversary or for christening of their first child.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wedding Traditions and Superstitions: Wedding Dress and Accessories
This well known little rhyme originated during Victorian times and is still commonly practiced nowadays for good luck. Traditionally, the "old" would have been the garter of a happily married woman, which is given to the bride with the thought that her good fortune would be passed down along with it. The "old" also signifies the couple's friends will stay with them. The "old" also symbolizes the bride's connection to her past - a sense of family, continuity and tradition.
"Something new" symbolises the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.
"Something borrowed" is usually a much valued item from the bride's family or a dear friend. It symbolizes prosperity within the new union. Something borrowed also reminds the bride that family and friends will always be there for her. It must be returned to ensure good luck. Borrow something from a happily married friend or family to wish your married life will mirror the happiness in her marriage.
"Something blue" comes from an ancient Israeli tradition in which the bride wears a blue ribbon in her hair as a symbol of her fidelity. Blue represents faithfulness, fidelity and constancy.
A silver sixpence in the bride's shoe is to ensure wealth in the couple's life. It symbolizes the promise of a lifetime of joy, a lifetime of good health, happiness, wealth, fortune, and wedded bliss the newlywed couple. The sixpence first became known as a lucky coin when introduced by king Edward VI of England in 1551. It later became part of bridal wedding traditions in the Victorian era. In 17th century England, the sixpence was part of the bride's dowry gift to the groom. A sixpence is a symbol of good luck. The sixpence coin is no longer being minted nor in circulation - the last sixpence was minted under Queen Elizabeth in 1967. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.
Wedding Dress
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony.
The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stich on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
The colour of the brides wedding dress too had its own significance. The Romans and the Greeks wore white wedding dresses and, contrary to popular belief, that white was worn as a sign of virginity and purity, they were worn more as a sign of joy.
The tradition for the bride to wear white began in the beginning of the 16th century as a symbol of the bride's purity and worthiness of her groom. In 1499, Anne of Brittany wore a white wedding gown to marry Louis XII of France. Prior to this, most bride wore yellow or red.
Since the early Romans, white has symbolized a joyful celebration. A white gown also symbolizes purity. The tradition of the white wedding gown became solidified during the time of Queen Victoria who rebelled against the royal tradition for royal brides to wear silver. She preferred the symbolism expressed by wearing white.
Since the early Romans, white has symbolized a joyful celebration. A white gown also symbolizes purity. The tradition of the white wedding gown became solidified during the time of Queen Victoria who rebelled against the royal tradition for royal brides to wear silver. She preferred the symbolism expressed by wearing white.
In biblical times, a blue dress symbolized purity.
A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish. The old expression that a woman has a "green gown" was used to imply promiscuity, the green meant she had been rolling in grassy fields with other men.
There was a well known rhyme which no doubt would have influenced many a bride as to the colour she should choose for her wedding dress.
Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, you spirit will sink.
Today’s bride however isn’t so influenced by the rhyme as her predecessors were. The very common dress color is white while there are some who also started using different colors of their preference.
The Veil
The wedding veil is thought to have two possible reasons for its incarnation. The first could have been due to ward off evil spirits which would attempt to spoil the day.
The other possibility could have been down to the Romans who were keen on arranged marriage. In these times it was customary for the bride to be covered from head to toe on her wedding day. This was to prevent the groom from seeing his bride until the ceremony was complete, after which either the father of the bride, or the groom, would lift the brides veil.
The other possibility could have been down to the Romans who were keen on arranged marriage. In these times it was customary for the bride to be covered from head to toe on her wedding day. This was to prevent the groom from seeing his bride until the ceremony was complete, after which either the father of the bride, or the groom, would lift the brides veil.
The veil became popular in Britain in the eighteen hundreds. In this country it is associated with modesty and chastity.
In some Eastern ceremonies the bride is veiled and the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until after the wedding ceremony.
In some Jewish weddings there is a ritual where the groom ensures that the bride is his intended before placing the veil over her face.
The Garter
The wedding garter is an essential wedding accessory to any bride. It was used to hold up her stockings and she would toss it to the male guests and the luck man who caught it would then in turn would present it to the lady of their choice in the hope they might marry the following year.
The garter tradition originated back to the 14th century. In parts of Europe the guests of the bride and groom believed having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck. They would actually destroy the brides dress by ripping off pieces of fabric. Obviously, this tradition did not sit well with the bride, so she began throwing various items to the guests – the garter being one of them. It became customary for the bride to toss the garter to the men. But this also caused a great problem for the bride….sometimes the men would get drunk, become impatient and try to remove the garter ahead of time. Therefore, the custom derived at having the groom remove and toss the garter to the men. With this change, the bride began to toss the bridal boutique to the unwed girls who were eligible for marriage.
Another interesting custom dated back to the ancient times where the wedding garter represented the virginal girdle. When the groom removed the garter from the bride, this represented the bride’s relinquishment of her virginity.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wedding Traditions and Superstitions: Choosing the Date
Choosing the wedding date involves a lot of factors like traditions, superstitions and among others.
A popular day for a wedding is used to be Sunday where most people are free from work. However, Puritans in the Seventeenth Century put a stop to this, believing it was improper to be festive on the Sabbath day.
Certain days of the week and certain months of the year are better than others for a wedding. As the rhyme goes..
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday best of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
In the east, the Chinese will never choose a date for a wedding with 4 in it. In the US, many see 13 as an extremely unlucky number and avoid that date. Lucky numbers are 8 for the Chinese and 7 for the US. 7 is a significant number for many reasons. They call it lucky 7. In Japanese mythology there are 7 Gods of Fortune while in Christianity there are 7 deadly sins. There are 7 wonders in the world and there 7 basic chakras or energy centers. Many couples got married on 7th August 2007, that way they ended up with 7/7/07 as their wedding date. Same as 8th August last year where so many couples tied the knot. The 8 is considered lucky and a triple such as in 8/8/08 is considered a very auspcious thing.
The phase of the moon is another thing that many take into consideration when planning for weddings. It is believed by some that that the moon attracts energy to or from us. It is said that more blessings are given if a ritual is done while the moon is waxing towards the full moon, particularly on the three days leading all the way up the full moon. Since we know that the moon affects the waves it isn’t too hard to believe that it may indeed have a part to play in good fortune at weddings. The suggestion is to choose a date before the full moon as close to the date of the full moon as possible if not on the day itself. They say that when the full moon begins to wane so does ones luck run out. You’ll have to decide for yourself if this is true or not.
A popular day for a wedding is used to be Sunday where most people are free from work. However, Puritans in the Seventeenth Century put a stop to this, believing it was improper to be festive on the Sabbath day.
Certain days of the week and certain months of the year are better than others for a wedding. As the rhyme goes..
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday best of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
In the east, the Chinese will never choose a date for a wedding with 4 in it. In the US, many see 13 as an extremely unlucky number and avoid that date. Lucky numbers are 8 for the Chinese and 7 for the US. 7 is a significant number for many reasons. They call it lucky 7. In Japanese mythology there are 7 Gods of Fortune while in Christianity there are 7 deadly sins. There are 7 wonders in the world and there 7 basic chakras or energy centers. Many couples got married on 7th August 2007, that way they ended up with 7/7/07 as their wedding date. Same as 8th August last year where so many couples tied the knot. The 8 is considered lucky and a triple such as in 8/8/08 is considered a very auspcious thing.
The phase of the moon is another thing that many take into consideration when planning for weddings. It is believed by some that that the moon attracts energy to or from us. It is said that more blessings are given if a ritual is done while the moon is waxing towards the full moon, particularly on the three days leading all the way up the full moon. Since we know that the moon affects the waves it isn’t too hard to believe that it may indeed have a part to play in good fortune at weddings. The suggestion is to choose a date before the full moon as close to the date of the full moon as possible if not on the day itself. They say that when the full moon begins to wane so does ones luck run out. You’ll have to decide for yourself if this is true or not.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weddings: Flowers And Their Meanings
Wondering which type of flowers to use for your wedding and especially for your bridal bouquet? Usually people choose the flowers by its meaning and its beauty. Here are some flowers that are widely used and their meanings.
Acacia: Friendship
Agapanthus: Secret Love
Alstroemeria: Devotion
Amaryllis: Pride, Timidity, Splendid Beauty
Ambrosia: Reciprocated Love
Anemone: Expectations
Angelica: Inspiration
Apple Blossom: Promise
Aster: Elegance and Love
Azalea: First Love, Temperance
Baby's Breath: Innocence, Festivity
Bachelor Button: Anticipation
Begonia: A fanciful nature
Bells of Ireland: Good Luck
Bouvardia: Enthusiasm
Buttercup: Childishness
Calla Lily: Magnificent Beauty
Calla Lily: Magnificent Beauty
Camellia-red: Unpretending excellence
Camellia-white: Perfected loveliness
Carnation-red: Alas poor heart
Carnation-pink: I'll never forget you
Carnation-purple: Capriciousness
Carnation-stripped: Sorry I can't be with you
Carnation-white: Innocence
Carnation-yellow: Disdain
Chrysanthemum-red: Love
Chrysanthemum-white: Truth
Chrysanthemum-yellow: Slighted love
Crocus: Youthful gladness
Daffodil: Regard, You are the only one
Daffodil: Regard, You are the only one
Dahlia: Dignity and Elegance
Daisy: Gentleness, Innocence, Loyalty and Romance
Dandelion: Rustic Oracle
Delphinium: Flights of Fancy, Ardent Attachment
Fern: Fascination
Fern: Fascination
Forget Me Not: Faithful Love, Undying Hope, Memory, Do Not Forget
Freesia: Innocence
Galax: Encouragement
Galax: Encouragement
Gardenia: Purity and Sweet Love
Gladiolus: Strength of character
Heather: Admiration and Beauty
Heather: Admiration and Beauty
Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty
Huckleberry: Faith
Hyacinth: Playful Joy
Iris: Faith, Wisdom, Valor and Promise
Iris: Faith, Wisdom, Valor and Promise
Ivy: Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship and Affection
Jasmine: Amiability
Jasmine: Amiability
Jonquil: Affection Returned
Larkspur: An open Heart
Larkspur: An open Heart
Lavender: Loyalty
Lemon Leaves: Everlasting Love
Lemon Leaves: Everlasting Love
Lilac-purple: First Emotion of Love
Lilac-white: Youthful innocence
Lily-orange: Wealth
Lily-white: Sweetness
Lily-white: SweetnessLily-yellow: Gaiety
Lily of the Valley: Humility, Sweetness, Return of Happiness
Lotus Flower: Estranged love
Magnolia: Love of Nature
Magnolia: Love of Nature
Marigold: Grief
Morning Glory: Affection
Mum: HopeMyrtle: Home, love
Narcissus: Egotism
Orange Blossom: Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
Narcissus: Egotism
Orange Blossom: Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
Orchid: Love, Beauty and Magnificence
Pansy: Thoughtful Reflection
Pansy: Thoughtful Reflection
Peony: Happy Marriage and Prosperity
Primrose: Young Love
Ranunculus: Radiant, Charming
Ranunculus: Radiant, Charming
Rose, Pink: Perfect Happiness
Rose, White: Charm and Innocence
Rose, Red: Love and Desire
Rose-single red: I Love You
Rose-Burgundy: Unconscious love
Rose, white and red: Unity
Rose, Orange: Passion
Rose, Yellow: Joy and Gladness
Rosebud: Beauty and youth
Rosemary: Remembrance
Snapdragon: Presumption
Snapdragon: Presumption
Solidago: Success
Star of Bethlehem: Purity
Statice: Remembrance
Stephanotis: Marital Happiness
Stock: Lasting Beauty
Sunflowers: Pride
Sweet Pea: Blissful Pleasure
Tiger Lily: Prosperity
Tiger Lily: Prosperity
Tuberose: Dangerous Pleasure
Tulip: Love and Passion
Tulip-red: Declaration of love
Violet: Faithfulness
Wax Flower: Riches
Violet: Faithfulness
Wax Flower: Riches
Wisteria: Welcome
Yarrow: Healing, Good Health
Yarrow: Healing, Good Health
Zinnia: Thoughts of Friends
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Choosing a Wedding Theme
When planning your wedding it's easier to start with choosing a theme. You and your partner should think about what both of you want and how you want your wedding to be. Maybe you can start with your common interests, hobbies or your love story. You can also explore some wedding theme ideas that would match to what you both want or create your own wedding theme. It would also be so romantic, fun and special when you both can come up with your own original theme.
Here are some wedding themes that you might want to have or you might get some ideas from here and mix it with your own.
Romantic Wedding Theme
Candles everywhere, soft lights, champagne, rose petals thrown on the ground, all colors soft and pretty, flowers have soft and delicate colors too, nice ambiance, fine music - this is what a romantic wedding theme entails. Roses are ideal flowers for this theme coupled with other flowers that have soft colors. You can play around with different shades of red or pink. There should be nothing too overpowering at a romantic wedding theme ceremony. Nothing too bright or bold - just soft, beautiful colors and decorations. A romantic wedding theme is soft and delicate with lots of special added touches throughout the reception hall.
Beach Wedding Theme
A beach wedding is beautiful, romantic and picturesque. The lovely colors of sunsets dipping below the horizon; the dawning rays that gorgeously glint over the water as the sun rises, they all create their own beautiful auras, keeping us all mesmerized as we watch. And, the feeling of freedom in the open with wide space above and with the water stretching out before us is simply exhilarating. When planning for this theme, you can focus on tropical, ocean, nautical, nature, seashells, musical and a lot more. This theme is quite relaxed and fun. It can be less expensive too. However, you have to be ready with the elements of nature like rain and strong winds.
Fantasy Wedding Theme
Fantasy weddings doesn't necessarily mean a Cinderella themed wedding as there are many other themes that can be celebrated elegantly. You can have a Mid-Summer Night's Dream theme or sci-fi theme. A theme focused mainly on fairies and elves would be nice too. You may also want to focus on angels or wizards for your theme. There are just so many magical, dreamy and fantasy things you can have for your wedding. You just have to let your imaginations flow and let the excitement lead you to the type of fantasy wedding you want.
Victorian Wedding Theme
An elegant old-fashioned style wedding with everything inspired by the art and beauty of the Victorian era. A garden setting would be nice for this theme as well as an indoor setup. All you have to do is to have so many flowers like roses or carnations all over the place to give that Victorian look. Classical music was the music of choice in Victorian times. You could hire a string quartet or other small musical group to play pieces that were popular during the late nineteenth century. Piano music was all the rage then, too.
Spring Wedding Theme
Spring is a season of renewal, where flowers begin to bloom, leaves pop out on the trees, and birds serenade you with their lovely songs. It's also a season that provides a wealth of beautiful wedding theme options. It can be done in various locations. Those who wish to go outdoors can choose from parks or gardens. Pastel colors are what's most appropriate for spring weddings. Think pale yellows, pinks, purples, blues, and greens. Pair two or more shades together - pink and green or purple and yellow for example, to create a color wedding theme.
Summer Wedding Theme
Summer weddings are like sunshine on a cloudy day. Everything is happy and upbeat at a summer wedding. Summer wedding ideas may include outdoor weddings and weddings held in tents. Another one of the wonderful summer wedding ideas is to hold the wedding ceremony and reception at a cabin by a lake. There are some wonderful summer wedding ideas like having a garden wedding or holding the wedding in a park, with lush gardens and greens in the background for wonderful picture taking. Also, this is the time of year when a huge variety of flowers are available. The most popular choices include roses, daisies, foxglove, hyacinth, bachelor buttons, geraniums, hollyhock, tiger lilies, poppies, carnations, sunflowers, calla lilies, and pansies.
Fall/Autumn Wedding Theme
Fall/Autumn weddings will most often feature the colors of the season, such as light greens, faded yellows, burnt oranges, burgundy reds, and chocolate browns. In fact, pairing these colors (as well as blue, pink, terra cotta, ivory, plum, and white) with various shades of brown can make a stunning and elegant wedding theme combination. This theme can be casual yet elegant set in a beautiful old barn. You might also look at an apple orchard, a vineyard, or any place that will have a view of fall foliage. If you live in a climate where the leaves don’t change, look for a venue with lots of rich dark wood and warmth such as a gentleman’s club or university club.
Winter Wedding Theme
Delicate snowflakes and sparkling ice crystals can usually be found within most winter wedding ideas. With a bit of creative imagination, your winter wedding theme can truly become a glamorous and magical wonderland. Winter weddings use ices and snows in their innovative bests, the best idea to use them is to have imaginative ice sculptures of various sizes and colors placed all around the party. Ice sculptures give the place the authentic look besides being points of attractions. For an even more dramatic affect on decorations, tack ribbon streams of midnight blue tulle netting or gossamer from the center of the ceiling out to the corners of the room, then drape twinkle lights within the material.
The above mentioned themes are just some of the many themes being used by couples nowadays for their wedding. The internet is the best place to browse more information on this so take time to make a research on the many ideas you can have for your wedding.
The process of choosing your theme in itself is a whole lot fun that you both should enjoy. Don't go by what's hot nowadays, choose what you really want and how you imagined your wedding would be no matter how traditional or avant-garde it is. Whatever your choice will be, definitely it will be just perfect for your big day as it is something you really want. Once you put your heart into something, all else will just flow beautifully.
How to Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring
So you're about to pop the question and you're now busy looking for that perfect ring for her. It would be ideal to get something that matches her personality and of course, something that gives value for your money. Some prefer to buy smaller ones but with a very good quality while others prefer buying bigger ones without giving much emphasis on quality.
When looking for a diamond ring, remember the 4 Cs of diamonds namely: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.
Cut refers to the proportions, symmetry and finish of a polished diamond. To get from the raw diamond to the cut gemstone requires the skilled hand of a master cutter. The better the cut proportions, the better the diamond handles light to create sparkle. Cut is the single most important factor affecting a diamond's sparkle, brilliance and visual fire. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.
Color is another important factor in determining its value. Ideally, a diamond should have no colour at all, like a drop of spring water. Increasing degrees of body colour are measured on a scale ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply coloured (Z). For white/colourless diamonds, the top colours: D (the Best Blue white), E (exceptional white), F (Very very white),G (rare white), H (white) and I (slightly offwhite) are all considered "white" when set in a ring and are hard to tell apart to the untrained eye: e.g. an E is hard to tell from a D, an F is hard to tell from an E, though the difference between say a D and an H may be more discernible when the diamonds are compared loose.
Clarity is determined by the internal characteristics called "inclusions" and surface features called "blemishes". Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, however, during crystallization other minerals nearby, or even other bits of carbon forming more quickly may have become trapped within the cooling mass. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless which is I.F meaning internally flawless) to heavily included (I-3).
Carat is the weight of the diamond. It is the unit of weight for all gemstones. One carat is subdivided into 100 "points". Therefore a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. So, the bigger the size of the diamond, the bigger the carat.
So when getting that special ring, it is important to check these qualities in the diamond so you will have an idea of its value. Consider your budget too and don't overspend on it as there are other things you need to put your money on, like wedding expenses.. Something beautiful to the naked eye and as long as it has good sparkle and color without obvious inclusions should be just wonderful.
Now, after knowing the 4 Cs, you better know her ring size. There are different ways of getting her ring size, you may ask her sister or her bestfriend about it but just ask them to keep it a secret first since you want to surprise her. Then start planning for that special moment - when you pop the question!
When looking for a diamond ring, remember the 4 Cs of diamonds namely: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.
Cut refers to the proportions, symmetry and finish of a polished diamond. To get from the raw diamond to the cut gemstone requires the skilled hand of a master cutter. The better the cut proportions, the better the diamond handles light to create sparkle. Cut is the single most important factor affecting a diamond's sparkle, brilliance and visual fire. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.
Color is another important factor in determining its value. Ideally, a diamond should have no colour at all, like a drop of spring water. Increasing degrees of body colour are measured on a scale ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply coloured (Z). For white/colourless diamonds, the top colours: D (the Best Blue white), E (exceptional white), F (Very very white),G (rare white), H (white) and I (slightly offwhite) are all considered "white" when set in a ring and are hard to tell apart to the untrained eye: e.g. an E is hard to tell from a D, an F is hard to tell from an E, though the difference between say a D and an H may be more discernible when the diamonds are compared loose.
Clarity is determined by the internal characteristics called "inclusions" and surface features called "blemishes". Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, however, during crystallization other minerals nearby, or even other bits of carbon forming more quickly may have become trapped within the cooling mass. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless which is I.F meaning internally flawless) to heavily included (I-3).
Carat is the weight of the diamond. It is the unit of weight for all gemstones. One carat is subdivided into 100 "points". Therefore a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. So, the bigger the size of the diamond, the bigger the carat.
So when getting that special ring, it is important to check these qualities in the diamond so you will have an idea of its value. Consider your budget too and don't overspend on it as there are other things you need to put your money on, like wedding expenses.. Something beautiful to the naked eye and as long as it has good sparkle and color without obvious inclusions should be just wonderful.
Now, after knowing the 4 Cs, you better know her ring size. There are different ways of getting her ring size, you may ask her sister or her bestfriend about it but just ask them to keep it a secret first since you want to surprise her. Then start planning for that special moment - when you pop the question!
Law of Attraction Quotes
Lately I've been reading a book on Law of Attraction and I'm trying to apply it in my daily life. I am just starting small though. I admit, it really works. It's just a matter of focusing your thought on what you really want and be confident that you will have it. Of course, being grateful also plays a major role as it's an affirmation of you having what you really want.
Here are some interesting quotes people who have mastered the Law of Attraction:
"The difference between feeling hopeful and feeling fearful is the difference between success and failure."
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
"Decide what you want, give your attention in it in a way that feels good, and follow your inner guidance."
"Trust - expecting the best to happen, believing in your ability to create what you want, and knowing you deserve to have it - can be demonstrated in many ways. It is demonstrated by believing in something even when the outer world seems to reflect something else."
"It is the nature of thought to find its way into action."
"One new perception, one fresh thought, one act of surrender, one leap of faith can change your life forever."
"Dreams are powerful reflections of your actual growth potential."
"Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch."
In my next posts I will share more about the Law of Attraction and my own experience with it too.
Here are some interesting quotes people who have mastered the Law of Attraction:
"The difference between feeling hopeful and feeling fearful is the difference between success and failure."
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
"Decide what you want, give your attention in it in a way that feels good, and follow your inner guidance."
"Trust - expecting the best to happen, believing in your ability to create what you want, and knowing you deserve to have it - can be demonstrated in many ways. It is demonstrated by believing in something even when the outer world seems to reflect something else."
"It is the nature of thought to find its way into action."
"One new perception, one fresh thought, one act of surrender, one leap of faith can change your life forever."
"Dreams are powerful reflections of your actual growth potential."
"Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch."
In my next posts I will share more about the Law of Attraction and my own experience with it too.
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