Tag: traditions

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Find out what the floral choices at your wedding actually mean

Most brides only worry about how pretty their bouquets look, and how well it ties to their wedding themes. We cannot, of course, discount the budget factor, and many brides also make this a priority when choosing the flowers for their wedding. However, wedding flowers hold much deeper significance. They personify the values the couple hold dear, and the choice of flowers can tell your guests a lot about you, as a person.

If you are a bride who values the meaning behind traditions, and would like to choose flowers based on what each one signifies, here is a guide to help you make your choice based on the most important factors.

Love and happiness

Marriage symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter; one that marks the love between a couple, and is hopefully filled with joy. Choose the following flowers to express your joy at stepping into this new beginning in life.

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  • Lily of the Valley
  • Stephanotis
  • Gerbera

Roses are the traditional symbol of love, especially the deep red ones. Apart from them, you can also use the following flowers in your wedding, as a symbol of your love

  • Tulips
  • Myrtle
  • Pansies

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Togetherness, Friendship and Faithfulness

A happy married life means the bride and groom remain faithful, and enjoy each others company for years. As their relationship mellows, a good marriage grows sweeter and deeper. Age shouldn’t distance a couple, but bring them closer. This can be possible only when the couple are first friends, and then lovers; for friendship is one of the strongest human relationships that is unaffected by age.

Fredrich Nietzsche said, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

This is why every couple should promise to remain friends in thick and thin. Make your choice from the following flowers that are symbolic of togetherness, faithfulness and friendship, to make your floral selection reflect this thought.

  • Bluebells for everlasting love
  • Lavender for devotion
  • Violet for Faithfulness
  • Magnolia for Perseverance
  • White roses for unity
  • Gladiolus for faithfulness and honor

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Luck and fertility

Every couple looks forward to a lucky marriage; one that tides over their storms in life and helps them stay together, come what may. As they begin their journey together, they accept good wishes and blessings.

Historically, marriage was the couple’s passport to begin a family together, have progeny and continue their heritage. Although this has changed over time, there still are couples who look forward to having a happy family with children after their marriage. The following flowers are symbolic of good fortune and fertility, and you may like to add these to your wedding.

  • Hollyhock for fertility
  • Bells of Ireland for good luck
  • Iris for health
  • Alstroemeria for wealth, prosperity and fortune
  • Snowdrop for hope

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While these flower choices are popular in weddings, there are many more flowers that you can choose from. We suggest that you take a look at this article on the Flower Expert website, to find out the meanings and significance of more varieties of flowers. Once you have decided what flowers should be part of your wedding bouquet, come visit us at Best for Bride. We can help you create the bouquet that is just right for your big celebration.

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Wedding Traditions from around the world

Weddings are special in every country and community. It is perhaps the one joyous occasion in life, that the entire world deems worthy of celebration. Hence, there are traditional rituals associated with this occasion, that have been followed for ages, and continue to this day. Let us look at some wedding customs from various countries of the world, and understand how each culture solemnizes the union of man and woman.

China

China is a huge country with many ethnic groups. So, the wedding customs vary greatly from one region to another. The traditional style of matchmaking had matchmakers who took the proposal from the groom to the girl’s family. The wedding was fixed only after a fortune teller predicted whether the couple would have a happy life together. Traditional wedding attires of both bride and groom were in red. The bride and her party were expected to cry for days leading up to the wedding, as this symbolized her grief of leaving her home. After the wedding rituals, the guests were treated to a feast, that often had six or nine courses.

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India

Indian weddings involve several rituals and take days to complete. The traditional bridal attire includes heavy jewelry, elaborate hairstyles with flowers and beautiful dresses with plenty of golden embroidery and embellishments. The bride is adorned with turmeric during the Haldi ceremony, and her hands and feet decorated with mehendi (semi-permanent tatoos) a few days before the wedding. The groom’s family arrives in a procession and are welcomed by the bridal party. The couple exchange flower garlands to symbolize their acceptance of each other. In some cultures, the groom ties a necklace called the mangalsutra, around the bride’s neck and this has to be worn by the bride at all times.The couple circle the holy fire, as they vow to love and care for each other.

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Ghana

In Ghana, the wedding ceremony begins with the groom and his family members knocking on the door of the bride’s house and making their wedding proposal. They hand over gifts to the girl’s family, and if these are accepted it means their proposal will be considered. On the day of the wedding, the elders discuss dowry arrangements and then the bride is asked if she agrees to marry the groom. Once she does, the couple exchange rings and prayers are said. The guests are treated to a feast during the reception.

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Arab weddings

In Arabic weddings, the couple exchange rings on their engagement day. A day before the wedding, the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with henna and the groom gives the bride her mehr, or gold. The marriage ceremony or the Nikah begins with the religious representative reciting prayers and telling the group how husbands and wives should honor their relationship and each other. Legal documents are filled out and signed by the groom and the bride’s father, witnesses sign the contract and the marriage is official.

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Mexico

In Mexico, the couple’s Godparents sponsor their wedding. Flamenco-style ruffled dresses are the traditional bridal dress choice. The bride changes her outfit a number of times during the ceremony. The reception buffet includes traditional dishes like spicy rice and beans. The cake is a rich fruit cake, and almond cookies are an essential sweet treat served at the reception.

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For more information on weddings, or to buy your wedding dress or accessories, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Wedding Rules that Should Be Broken

Old wedding traditions can feel like rules that must be followed. Some wedding rules can rob the bride and groom of a joyful moment. Consider how important following these rules are. If the groom sees the bride before the wedding, will she melt like the wicked witch after a bucket of water has been thrown on her? Does everyone needs to have that huge, white wedding that starts the couple with a nice pile of debt? The couple needs to decide what they want and make their special day as they would want it to be. Here are some traditional rules that you may not want to follow.

Rule 1: “The groom is not allowed to see the bride before the wedding.”

Couples may find that seeing each other and spending a brief moment alone away from the crowd before the wedding was a significant benefit. Many times, the wedding becomes a sequence of events and stressors. It becomes easy for the bride and groom to be distracted by Aunt Minnie’s emotional rant, what flower arrangement the florist forgot, or the bridesmaids bickering. The meaning of the moment and the emotional connection can be lost in the shuffle. Taking time to be excited together and connect emotionally before the ceremony can be priceless.

Rule 2: “Keep everything for a lifetime of memories!”

Well-meaning people advise the bride and groom to keep all the decorations so that they have something to remember the big day. Some brides toss a secondary bouquet so that they can keep the first. Instead of keeping everything, why not try to share it with others who could use it? Allow everything possible to get a second home and second life and meaning to someone else. Your memories aren’t housed in the bouquet, vase, or candle. Photographs and videos are nice keepsakes to cherish. Wedding decorations are more likely to take up space and gather dust rather than be of any use to the newlyweds.

Rule 3: “Follow family traditions.”

The couple may feel honored to keep the family wedding traditions alive, or they may not. If the family tradition does not reflect the kind of wedding the couple wants to have, they should be made to feel guilty for making their wedding more personal. However, some families may try to issue a guilt trip to the bride and groom for not doing things exactly how the past generations have done things. If the couple feels that they do not want to follow the family traditions, they need to set that boundary and stick to it. What you do at your wedding may become the next family tradition.

Rule 4: “Weddings are elaborate, expensive formal affairs.”

A simple wedding can be just as lovely and meaningful as an expensive wedding. Many couples are opting for a small, simple event. Outdoor weddings such as a wedding in the garden or on the beach are often kept simple with few decorations. However, they also can be quite elaborate. The couple needs to decide what kind of wedding they want and what they can afford. Keeping things small and sweet can make the event seem more intimate and loving without the need for showy, grand decor. For more tips about making your wedding day special, visit Best for Bride blog.

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New Confetti Traditions for Weddings

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For many years, it has been the tradition at weddings to through rice at the bride and groom as they are departing for their honeymoon celebration. However, in recent years, this tradition has somewhat become boring and couples are constantly looking for new ways to celebrate their union.

Over the years, there have been many things that have been used to replace rice throwing at wedding. Below are some of the most popular items as well as a couple that are fun and unique.

Bubbles

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Instead of throwing rice, many couples have decided to use small containers of bubbles instead. These are great because there is very little work involved with them; you simply throw them into a pretty basket. Also, they do not cause a huge mess as other options do and kids love taking them home for later. This means that there will be very few left over that must then be disposed of or cleaned up.

Confetti

Although it may be more difficult to clean up, confetti can create a beautiful effect for the bride and groom’s departure. It can be created to match any wedding color theme and will be beautiful in pictures. Another fun idea would be to offer the guests party poppers instead that they can launch them as the bride and groom leave as well.

Balloons

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Balloons are not typically thought of as a wedding item, but they can make for a great way to celebrate as the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon. Each guest can be provided with a balloon that they will release as the bride and groom are exiting the building. Not only will this create some fantastic pictures, but it will be a nice memory of the wedding as well.

Silly String

If you are looking for a unique and fun idea, silly string can also be a fun addition to a wedding reception. Keep in mind that it will be extremely messy, but is also an option that can be very fun. To add even more fun, the bride and groom should have a can or two to defend themselves with as they are leaving as well.

Rose Petals

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This is another option that is inexpensive and fun. You can easily find a good number of options at your local flower shops for relatively little money. You can also choose flowers that match your wedding bouquet or the flowers in your wedding as well.

Conclusion

Throwing things at the bride and groom while they are leaving the wedding venue for their honeymoon is a tradition that most couples include with their wedding planning process. It is a fun tradition that can create great pictures and enjoyable memories.

Best for Bride

Best for Bride is a bridal shop that offers a great number of resources for brides and the wedding planning process. Brides can experience something special when they begin planning their wedding at this one stop shop bridal store that offers everything needed to plan a wedding.