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Badluck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding

Posted on by weddingminions

During the time when arranged marriages were custom, the betrothed couple wasn’t allowed to see each other before the wedding at all.

The wedding symbolized a business deal between two families (romantic, huh?), and a father would have been pleased for his daughter to marry a man from a rich, land-owning family. But he also feared that if the groom met the bride before the wedding and thought she wasn’t attractive, he’d call off the wedding, casting shame onto the bride and her family.

Therefore, it became tradition that the bride and groom were only allowed to meet at the wedding ceremony so that the groom did not have the opportunity to change his mind. And that veil the bride wears? Its original purpose was also to keep the groom from finding out what the bride looked like until the last possible minute, when it was too late to back out of the transaction.

Today: Although arranged marriages are no longer common, most brides still don’t want their groom to see them all done up before the wedding. Many believe it makes the day more exciting and memorable.

However, some couples feel they’ll be more relaxed if they see each other for just a few minutes before the ceremony. The added bonus is that you can take your formal pictures pre-ceremony when everyone is freshly done-up.

It’s completely up to you and your groom. Talk about it before the big day arrives and find out what makes the most sense for you.

Tips on choosing the perfect wedding venue

Posted on by weddingminions

After your big proposal, expect people to start asking where and when the wedding will take place. This question is not easy for any couple to answer. Gone are the days when choosing a wedding venue was a simple task. You would simply get married in the small church or garden in your hometown. These days, there is a lot more to consider if you want to make a lasting impression.

You need to start shopping for the perfect wedding venue for your wedding early enough. You don’t want to end up settling for less than what you wanted because your dream venue is already booked. Here are a few wedding venue tips to get you started.

Don’t rush to sign a contract out of excitement without understanding the logistics. You need to know everything about the venue from the time they expect your guests to have left to the areas that are out of bounds for all your wedding guests. These minor details are important and they will help you in choosing a wedding venue confidently.

Know your wedding size before picking out a venue. There are venues that you will just cross out because they are either too big or too small for your wedding. Even if you don’t have the exact number of people who will be attending your wedding, you probably have a rough idea of the kind of occasion you would love (big or intimate wedding).

Get pictures of the venue from the season you intend to get married. You can see beautiful pictures of the venue during the warm months but this doesn’t give you an accurate image of the wedding location if your ceremony will take place during the wet season. Ask the right questions that apply to the season you wish to get married. For instance, do they have proper lighting, heat and air conditioning?

Consider special accommodations for your guests when choosing a wedding venue. There are venues which have been designed to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. Look out for things like wheelchair access, sanitation and the likes.

Visit the venue with your wedding planner and get his/her professional opinion regarding the location. Even though the final decision lies with you, you must get a second opinion from other people with experience in choosing wedding venues

Visit the wedding venue at a similar time and day when your wedding will be taking place. For instance, if your wedding is on a Saturday at 2pm, visit the venue at this day and time and get to see what it’s like to be there. Do you like the way the light floods into the room? Will the cold drafts in the hall way be too overwhelming for your guests? These are questions you will only be able to answer if you visit your venue.

Goodluck!

History on Wedding Ring, Wedding Band and the Diamond.

Posted on by weddingminions

What is this ring thing all about anyway? If you’ve ever wondered about the why and how of engagement rings and wedding bands, read on.

unique-vintage-engagement-ring

Ah, the romance of the ring. But how did it become a marriage symbol, and why is the fourth finger of your left hand the lucky recipient? Here are the history, traditions and purported powers of engagement and wedding rings.

Wedding

It’s believed the pharaohs of Egypt first used the circle, a shape with no beginning or end, as a symbol of eternity, but wearing a ring as a public pledge to honor the marriage contract did not become customary until Roman times. The earliest rings were made of simple iron, but gold rings set with gems were fashionable by medieval days. The most popular gems were symbolic—a red ruby was the color of the heart, a blue sapphire reflected the heavens—but the most coveted and powerful gem was the indestructible diamond.

Diamond Rings

The word “diamond” is derived from the Greek word adamas, which means “the unconquerable.” As Mother Nature’s hardest substance, diamonds represented invincible strength, a fitting gem for the marriage covenant. But the real pull of these sparkly stones, which ancient Greeks believed were delicate splinters of fallen stars, came from the powers and protection they offered the wearer. In India, where diamonds were first discovered, they were thought to be a shield from the combined forces of evil (which at that time included snakes, poison and theft). Ancient astrologers believed diamonds promoted lasting love and warded off witchcraft and nightmares. Associated with everything from innocence to sexual power and all-encompassing protection, you can see why the diamond became the betrothal gift of choice for lads and ladies.

Engagement Rings

Blame it on Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who started the diamond ring trend in 1477 when he presented one to his beloved, Mary of Burgundy. The tradition of wearing the engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand can be traced to the Egyptians, who believed the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of this finger.

Wedding Bands for the Groom

Dual-ring ceremonies, in which both bride and groom wear a ring, were introduced by the Greek Orthodox Church in the 1300s. The custom didn’t catch on until the beginning of World War II, when young men were forced to leave their beloveds behind, not knowing when and if they would return. Many couples married in anticipation of separation, and wedding bands—one for each partner—were considered critical to the war effort, as a solace to lonely soldiers and as a reminder for brides that their faraway soldier thought of them always. By the height of the war, 85 percent of marriages were dual-ring ceremonies. And of course, they continue to be today.

Well now you’re in the know 🙂

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Posted on by weddingminions

The time-honoured tradition “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” was once thought to not only give the bride good luck on her wedding day, but also help to guarantee fertility and prosperity.

Yes we did our research 🙂

Let’s help you blend these little ‘Good luck Charms’ into your magical day;

Something Old

Your something old could be something as simple as a bungle that you’re attached to. The trick comes on blending it in with the whole wedding outfit.

Something New

Generally, the “something new” is a gift from the groom or one of the bride’s family
members.  Perhaps it is a new necklace that perfectly matches your wedding dress!

Of course, this is a more expensive route. If you need to do “something new” on a budget, think simple. Buy up a bunch of pretty hankies and tuck one into your dress or bouquet (hand out the rest to your bridal party)

Something Borrowed

Out of all of these, we admit that “something borrowed” is our favourite. It symbolises the community surrounding you on your wedding day and in the new life you are starting.  You can borrow pretty much anything, but we think it’s pretty special when you borrow your grandmother’s earrings or your mother’s hair clip. something-new

Something Blue

No matter what your wedding colour palette, you can always find a way to blend in the blue! It could be a small hair clip in your hair or just wrap some pretty blue ribbons around your bouquet!

And Voila! We’re done 🙂