Occasions Etc
B*I*T*C*H WEDDING GUIDE
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
From Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare
Wedding Vows - Samples of Wedding Vows
Medieval/Celtic Marriage Ceremonies and Handfasting
Medieval wedding invitations and stationery for brides
Medieval Wedding Invitations from Ashton
Flowers
This whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband.
The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque!
•White rosebud - heart ignorant of love
•Crocus - abuse not
•Rhubarb
- advice
•Indian jasmine - attachment
•Holly - Am I forgotten
•Deep red carnation - Alas! for my poor heart
•Deep red rose - bashful shame
•Full red rose - beauty
•Burgundy rose - unconscious beauty
•Unique rose - call me not beautiful
•Turnip(!) - charity
•Chrysanthemum - cheerfulness in old age
•Buttercup - childishness
•Great yellow daffodil - chivalry
•Lettuce - coldheartedness
•Moss rosebud - confession of love
•Red poppy - consolation
•Red tulip - declaration of love
•Yellow sweetbrier or yellow rose - decrease of love
•Mistletoe - difficulties, I surmount
•Yellow carnation - rue, distain
•Thornless rose - early attachment
•Anemone - expectation
•Scarlet poppy - extravagance, fantastic
•Blue violet - faithfulness
•Purple lilac - first emotions of love
•Forget-me-not -
•Damask rose - freshness
•White rose - i am worthy of you
•Peach blossom - i am your captive
•Iris - i have a message for you
•White daisy - innocence
•Yellow rose - jealousy
•Dandelion - love's oracle
•Lotus flower - estranged love
•Ivy - marriage
•Provence rose - my heart is in flames
•Yellow iris - passion
•Dog rose - pleasure and pain
•Christmas rose - relieve my anxiety
•Filbert - reconciliation
•Spanish jasmine - sensuality
•Peony - shame
•White poppy - sleep
•Yellow chrysanthemum - slighted love
•Amarylis - splendid beauty
•Honeyflower - sweet and secret love
•Pansy - thoughts
•Zinnia - thoughts of absent friends
•Forget-me-not also means true love
•White and red rose together - unity
•Parsley - useful knowledge
•Pink carnation - woman's love
•Lady slipper - win me and wear me
•Marigold - vulger minded
•Rosemary - your presence revives me
•Ice plant - your looks freeze me
•"The essence of Romantic art lies in the artistic object's being free, concrete, and the spiritual idea in its very essence - all this revealed to the inner rather than to the outer eye.... This inner world is the content of Romantic art; Romantic art must seek its embodiment in precisely such an inner life or some reflection of it. Thus the inner life shall triumph over the outer world; triumph over it in such a way that the outer world will itself proclaim the former's victory, by which sensuous appearance must sink into worthlessness...." (Hegel).
Harry Winston Engagement collection
THE WEDDING CAKE
Wedding Cakes, Wedding Cake Pictures, Decorated Cookies, Cookie Favors, Birthd Wedding cake pictures - Designer wedding cakes for your special day
Maui Wedding Cakes - Maui Weddings, Wedding Cakes on Maui, Maui Bakeries, Wedd
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. and water. 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.
The top tier of the cake is often kept by couples for the christening of their first child.
WEDDING DRESS COLOR
Before the white dress brides wore their best dress. The colour was a matter of preference. The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress colour:
ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING
However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.
Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include lambs, toads, spiders, black cats and rainbows.
Seeing an open grave, a pig, a lizard, or hearing a cockerel crow after dawn are all thought to be omens of bad luck.
Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
BRIDESMAIDS
Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the bride for the same reason as the origin of veil. The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride.
THE COUPLE'S FIRST PURCHASE
It is said that the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship. Many brides ensure that they make the first purchase by arranging to buy a small item such as a pin from the chief bridesmaid immediately after the ceremony.
SHOES
In the past there have been a number of customs involving shoes which were thought to bring good luck. The best known, which is still upheld, is to tie shoes to the back of the newlyweds' car. This has evolved from the Tudor custom where guests would throw shoes at the newlywed couple. It was considered lucky if they or their carriage were hit.
Less well known is for the bride's father to give the groom a pair of the bride's shoes to symbolise the passing of responsibility for the daughter to her new husband. A variation of the custom is for the groom to tap the bride on the forehead with one of the shoes to assert his dominance.
The custom of the bride throwing her bouquet shoulder, described below, was originally performed by her throwing one of her shoes over her shoulder.
BOUQUET
After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where the unmarried female guest group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.
A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it back over his shoulder toward the unmarried male guests. Again the one who catches it will be the next to marry.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
After the wedding the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance.
Hindu's have a similar tradition. The bride is carried by her new husband so that she does not touch the threshold when entering her new home.
THE BEST MAN
It is the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck.
He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason.
When the best man is paying the church minister's fee he should pay him an odd sum to bring luck to the couple.
THE HONEYMOON
The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride
Gazing at the silver pathway
sparkling on the sea.
Lost in the beauty of love,
the way it was meant to be.
The moon smiled and beckoned,
just out of reach.
Like two small children we ran,
laughing down the beach.
Lost in the beauty and magic,
of this wondrous night.
We came together and made love,
in the silvery moonlight.
We flew to the moon,
on the wings of our passion.
Played tag with the stars,
were Gods in a fashion.
Moon kissed lovers,
wishing the night would never end,
Wondering sadly,
would it ever be this wonderful again?
Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish.
THE VEIL
Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection.
The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. It was thought that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit malevolent spirits.
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.
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