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Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Weddings

A wedding can be the single most important event in a person’s life and it is surrounded by tradition and history regardless of the faith and ethnic origins of those taking part.

There are so many different parts to it let’s take a look at what there is to know - follow the left hand menu items.
 

Flowers:

The choice of flowers for the wedding day is very important, not only ensuring proper colour co-ordination but flowers have their own language and the meaning of flowers can be as important as their colour.

We have provided a list of flowers and their meanings.

If you are still dating, we've found a great site we'd to share with you. Find your perfect match at Singles Dating for Free .

Planning:


Preparing for a wedding is not something to be undertaken lightly, traditionally this is organised by the Bride’s mother. However nowadays with people living away from home and having independent lives before their wedding it is common for the Bride herself to organise it.

In addition the use of a Wedding Consultant, particularly for big weddings. If you do choose to have a wedding consultant it would be wise to speak to previous customers if possible. But it’s worth mentioning that you must keep track of everything that’s being done, keep your own list and ensure it’s kept up-to-date.

There are lots of wedding consultant services available and we have provided a checklist to help ensure you’ve thought of everything. This doesn’t include everything but should help you along.

Decide on the budget for the event, and who’s paying for what

Choose a date based on when you want to it, and the availability of venues.

Choose & provisionally book the venue for the ceremony

Choose & provisionally book the venue for the wedding breakfast

Choose & provisionally book the venue for the wedding reception

Check the budget

Draw up the guest list for each part of the wedding, make sure you don’t exceed the capacity for each venue and send our RSVP invitations in plenty of time.

Will guests be coming from a long way away? Block book hotel rooms as needed.

wedding ring(s)

Prepare a wedding list

Choose attendants, make sure they can do it (you will need at least 1 usher per 50 guests).

Decide on Bridal party attire, get Bride and her attendants measured for dresses

Plan beauty arrangements (ensure that it co-ordinates with clothes and flowers)

Speak to florist regarding arrangements

Check the budget

Confirm the venues
 

Ensure all legal matters are taken care of

  • Organise the catering, unless your wedding party will be small a caterer is essential, once again make sure you get someone reliable.
  • Organise the wedding stationery
  • Book the transport (limousines, horse-drawn carriages, classic Rolls-Royce and do you need a bus for the guests?)
  • Photography: Do you want video as well or just stills? Can you find someone you know will do a good job? (Do the venues permit video filming?)
  • Music for the venues: Are you having any? What sort do you want? (DJ, Band, mixed?) Provisionally book them now
  • Check the budget
  • Send out the invitations
  • Organise seating plan as RSVPs come in
  • Final fitting for wedding dress
  • Groom and male attendants fitted for formal wear
  • Organise all clothes and accessories

Have a rehearsal of ceremony with attendants

If having a formal line-up at the Wedding Breakfast make sure everyone in it knows where and when
Confirm transport

Ensure all suppliers are still okay for the event, go through everything with them (florists, photographer / videographer, caterers, DJ/musicians).
Ensure Bride, Groom and attendants have all clothing and accessories

Confirm honeymoon arrangements (don't forget passports and necessary injections for foreign holidays)

Make sure you have the rings

Pack for honeymoon, make sure you have change of clothes ready

Give rings and any fees payable to the Best man

Get hair makeup etc. done

Get dressed

Enjoy the day

Planning
Preparing for a wedding is not something to be undertaken lightly, traditionally this is organised by the Bride’s mother. However nowadays with people living away from home and having independent lives before their wedding it is common for the Bride herself to organise it.

Bridal Shower:

This is an American tradition that it is being adopted in other parts of the world. It is a special party where family and friends "shower" the Bride and Groom with gifts of things they will need in their future lives together.
Very often this will be organised by relatives or close friends of the couple.

This can take the place as a replacement to the traditional Wedding List, or an addition to it.

Either way you can organise your list you using the facilities of this site, just log-on.

The Venue:

Nowadays there is a huge choice of venue for the marriage ceremony, anything from church to hotel, although most couples to choose somewhere that has some meaning.
 
Also there is the question of whether you want a religious or civil ceremony, but even with civil ceremonies there is always the desire to make the event something special.
 
Of course you don’t need to get married in the country you live, you can go abroad and to marry. Getting married abroad can involve considerable expense but has a lot of attraction: exotic locations, promise of good weather are just two, perhaps the lack of relatives might be another.
You can get married in the West Indies, the Seychelles, Virgin Islands, Las Vegas, Kenya, Thailand, Florida, Gibraltar and dozens of other locations around the world. And the honeymoon begins immediately.
 
Surprise marriages exist too, not a surprise to the participants, but certainly to the people around them. It’s not unknown for individuals to disappear off on holiday only to return married. Some couples don’t want a fuss to be made (or the potential stress) so will choose this route.

Flowers:

The language of flowers is full of meaning, and we have provided some of them here. But we cannot claim this list is definitive because there is no definitive list. The meaning changes from place to place, from century to century and from expert to expert. This is our alphabetical list of flowers.

 

Acacia - Elegance, friendship
Almond blossom - Hope
Alstromeria - Devotion
Amaryllis - Beautiful, timid, proud
Anemone - Farewell to the past
Antherinium - No secrets from you
Apple blossom - Good fortune and better things to come
Asparagus fern - Sincerity
Birch - Longevity
Burdock - Do not touch me
Calla Lily - Magnificent beauty
Camellia (Pink) - Longing for you
Camellia (Red) Y - ou're a flame in my heart
Camellia (White) - You're adorable
Carnation (Pink) - I'll never forget you
Carnation (Red) - My heart aches for you
Carnation (White) - Innocence, pure love
Carnation (Yellow) - You disappointed me, rejection
Carnation - Pure and ardent love
Chrysanthemum (red) - I love you
Chrysanthemum (white) - Truth
Cornflower - Admiration, hope
Cotton Balls - Nature
Cyclamen - Modesty and shyness
Daffodil - Regard
Daisy - Innocence or loyal love
Delphinium - An open heart
Eucalyptus - Spirituality
Fern - Magic, fascination, confidence & shelter
Forget-me-not - Remembrance and true love
Freesia - Innocence and trust
Gardenia - Joy
Geranium - Thoughts of youth
Goldenrod - Good fortune
Heather - Good luck
Heliotrope - Devotion and faithfulness
Hellebore - Scandal
Hollyhock - Devotion
Honeysuckle - Generosity
Hyacinth (purple) - Jealousy, sorrow
Hyacinth (white) - Modest loveliness
Hydrangea - Thank you for understanding
Iris - The flame of love and warm affection
Ivy - Wedded love, fidelityJaponica - Loveliness
Jasmine - Amiability
Larkspur - Fickleness
Lemon blossom - Fidelity in love
Lilac (white) - Youthful innocence
Lilac - Beauty
Lily (Calla) - Beauty
Lily - MajestyLily of the Valley - Return to happiness

 
Lisianthus - Appreciation Magnolia - Perseverance
Maidenhead fern - Discretion
Marigold - Grief
Meadow Saffron - My best days are past
Mimosa - Sensitivity
Miniature Rose - Always remember
Moss - Eternal affection
Myrtle - Love
Narcissus - Stay sweet
Orange blossom - Purity and virginity
Orchid - Refined love
Peach blossom - Captive
Peony - Captivation
Pink - Boldness
Poppy - Pleasure, imagination
Protea - Magic and enchantment
Ranunculus - I am dazzled by your charms
Rhododendron - Fascination
Rose (Bridal) - Happy love
Rose (coral) - Passion
Rose (dark pink) - Thankfulness
Rose (lavender) - Enchantment
Rose (orange) - Fascination
Rose (pale pink) - Grace
Rose (peach) - Modesty
Rose (pink) - Grace
Rose (red) - Love
Rose (White and Red Mixed) - Unity
Rose (white) - Innocence
Rose (yellow) - Friendship
Rosebuds - Youth & beauty
Rosemary - Remembrance
Snapdragon - Grace
Snow- Hope
Spray carnation - Fascination
Stargazer lily - Wealth
Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage
Stock - Bonds of affection
Sunflower - Devotion
Sweet pea - Delicate pleasure
Tuberose - Dangerous pleasure
Tulip (General) - Perfect lover
Tulip (red) - I love you
Tulip (variegated) - Enchantment
Tulip (white) - I am worthy of you
Tulip (yellow) - Hopeless and perfect love
Twisted willow - Remembrance
Veronica - Fidelity
Violet - Faithfulness


Superstitions and marriage:

Perhaps because it is considered to be such an important day weddings have attracted a large number of superstitions, here’s just a few:
 
The Bride and Groom must not see one another on the day of the marriage until the ceremony itself.
 
Seeing a rainbow is a good omen, as is the sun shining, meeting a black cat or a chimney sweep.
 
Seeing a grey horse (that’s one that’s coloured white) is good luck, being drawn in a carriage by one is better, and horseshoes from the hind hoofs of a grey are the best of all.
 
Bad omens are seeing an open grave or having a pig, lizard or a hare run across the road.
 
The Bride must not trip or fall when she enters the new home for the first time, which leads to being carried over the threshold.
 
Alternatively this is to stop her from stepping into the house left foot first.
 
The spouse that sleeps first on the wedding night will be the first to die.
 
If the Groom drops the wedding ring during the ceremony the marriage will fail.
 
Buying the engagement ring and the wedding ring at the same time is bad luck, and wearing the wedding ring before the ceremony is very bad indeed.
 
Putting a coin in the Bride’s left shoe is considered lucky
 
The Bride should look at herself full length just once before she leaves for the ceremony, which is good luck.
 
Throwing the bouquet is good luck, and the one who catches it will be the next to marry.
 
The sound of wedding bells drives away evil spirits and ensures the couple’s good luck in the future.
 
Finding a spider in a wedding dress is good luck.
 
For a Bride not to throw away every pin from her dress and veil is bad luck
 

Wedding rhymes:

There is a great deal of mystique around marriage, much of it invented to explain the apparently random level of success or failure.
Over the years well-known and not so well-known rhymes have appeared that you can take note of, or not, as you will:


Here's one you should all of heard of!

Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a lucky sixpence
In her shoe.

Does this ring true with you?

Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all

Watch your style if this is true!

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, your spirit will sink.






One for those wondering which month to marry in.

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.


Wedding Traditions From Around the World

The word wedding:
The derivation of the word "wed" comes from the Ancient Greek for "pledge" which means "to make a solemn, binding promise". The wedding, although it hasn’t been as formalised as it is now, has been one of the most important events through all cultures in history.
The wedding promise is always made before the immediate families of the Bride and Groom, who witness the event, sometimes to ensure that it did take place.

The nature of the pledge has always varied from culture to culture.
Weddings in different cultures
With the intermingling of peoples and cultures in the recent past, many aspects of cultural life have been lost. But to counteract that people nowadays try very hard to maintain their cultural heritage.

So take your time to look at Bridal Customs in different countries.


Greek Wedding Traditions:
Engagement
The engagement of a Greek couple is carried out in the presence of their families where the couple exchange rings. This ceremony is considered to be as binding as the wedding itself.

Pre Wedding traditions
The weddings usually take place on a Sunday and on the Wednesday before the ceremony there is the "starting the leaven". In this a boy and girl sift flour as the relatives look on in silence. When there is enough they throw coins into the sieve and call out good luck wishes.

On the Friday (two days before the wedding ceremony) there is the "filling of the sacks" where the Bride’s mother puts a copper pan into a sack. The Bride fills other sacks with all her belongings while well-wishers throw coins into the sacks as well.

At the same time the Groom is sending wine to his friends and relatives as an invivtation to the the wedding feast, the Bride’s father does the same for her side of the family.

On Saturday the Bride goes out with her friends to invite other girls to the wedding feast, she gives out sweets rather than wine.

The Wedding Day Ceremony
On Sunday, the wedding procession starts at the Groom’s house where a special flag is raised and a flag-bearer leads the Priest, the Groom and his family through the streets to the Bride’s house. The Bride’s mother offers the Groom wine and when he has drunk it the Bride sets off for the church accompanied by a male relative and the rest of the party follow.

Greek Brides wear red or yellow veils, which symbolize fire in order to protect the Bride from evil spirits. Also the Bride carries a lump of sugar with her to ensure her life will be sweet.

 At the ceremony the Bride and Groom are literally crowned by the Koumbaros is the most important man at a Greek wedding (though you can have a woman, a Koumbara): It is their task to exchange the crowns three times above the heads of the couple at the wedding. Often he is the Godfather of the Groom, but can be anyone who it is agreed should have this great honour.

When the ceremony is complete the Bride goes with the Groom back to his home where the flag is raised once more and the Bride throws a piece of old iron onto the roof as a symbol of the strength of her new road.

Wedding Food
Food is very important in Greek celebrations, and the wedding is no exception:

Koufetta is key to any wedding. These bittersweet fresh almonds symbolise that a marriage has both good and bad in it. The ones made for weddings are coated in sugar, as a promise that the couple will have more good than bad. The wedding bed is sprinkled with them then the guests are given an odd number of them from the bed (it’s an odd number to show that the couple are now one and cannot be divided). Unmarried women can put them under their pillow at night and will dream of their future husband.

Other traditions
At Greek weddings the dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck. Instead of a bouquet a Bride may throw a pomegranate. Since ancient times the pomegranate has symbolised death (the red juice) and fertility in the abundance of seeds they have.

Wedding rings are worn on the right hand and there is no "vow" as such. The Greeks see all weddings as a love match and there is no legal force because they will stay together anyway.


Irish Wedding Traditions:
A traditional Irish wedding is a tricky thing to manage, because it depends on the century and the part of Ireland you want it to be a part of. Ireland has so much tradition that it’s hard to know where to start.

Origin of the word Honeymoon
The word "Honeymoon" itself comes from the Irish tradition. Mead (honey wine) is drunk at the wedding feast and for a full month (one moon, hence a honey moon) after the wedding by the couple. It was intended to promote fertility (perhaps by breaking down inhibitions!) and also protect from the Little Folk who might try to carry the Bride off (which might have been a story concocted to encourage the drinking of the mead to achieve the oher aspect).

Magic Hanky
Something which has not spread into other cultures is the "Magic Hanky". The Bride carries a handerkerchief which, with a few stitches, can be turned into a baby’s christening bonnet. Then by removing the stitches it can be changed back to a hanky that the child can carry at their own wedding.

Fairy folk

There was a lot of trouble with the fairy folk in Ireland so many traditions have to do with avoiding all the possible ways the little people could interfere with your life or worse, carry the beautiful bride away:

Wedding bells
Giving a bell at a wedding is a tradition that represents the idea that bells drive away evil spirits.

Good luck and what to avoid!

More protection aginst the evil of the world is achieved by the Bride and Groom eating three mouthfuls of oatmeal and salt at the start of the wedding feast.

When dancing the Bride must keep one foot on the ground so that the fairies can’t carry her away.

It should be a man that first wishes the Bride good luck, not a woman; hearing a cuckoo is good luck as is seeing three magpies; unthe Greeks, breaking a glass or cup is bad luck; Bride and Groom must not wash their hands at the same time in the same basin; marrying when the moon is waxing is good for fertility; and a shoe must be thrown over the head of the Bride as she leaves the church;

Colours
Despite the colour green being associated with Ireland it is very important that the Bride does not wear anything green because that is an open invitation for the fairy folk to take her.

Blue is the colour to choose, for purity. Similarly she mustn’t sing because one of the faerie might be so entranced with her voice they’ll come after her.

Claddagh ring
A Claddagh ring has become popular since, according to legend, the 16th century when a fishing boat was captured by Algerian pirates and the crew sold as slaves. One of the crew was Richard Joyse who was to be married the same week. The ring symbolises undying loyalty.

Luck money
Once upon a time the Groom’s family bought the Bride from her family, this has changed to "luck money" where the Groom presents a coin to his Bride to ensure happiness and good luck.

Jumping the Broom

"Jumping the Broom" is a common practice in African-American culture but also exists in the Irish tradition. It dates back to a custom where the woman would ensure the fertility of crops by jumping or riding the broom.


Italian Wedding Traditions:
One tradition in Italy is that the couple must walk to the church together through the town. As they go the townsfolk put barriers in their way, such as a small child. If the Bride looks after and helps the child then he will be a good mother; or if she picks up the broom she will keep a clean house. They might even come across a log that must be cut in half with a double-handled saw. They work together and this represents their life together.

Tying the knot
A ribbon may be tied across the the front of the church or chapel symbolising the tying of the knot

Good luck traditions
The Groom may carry a piece of iron in his pocket to ward off evil while the Bride wears a veil to avoid being carried off or cursed by jealous spirits, though tearing the veil at the end of the ceremony is considered good luck.

Similar to the Greek tradition suger-covered almonds are eaten symbolising the bitter-sweet nature of marriage. In Italy they are tied into mesh bags which are thrown at the couple. They are also distributed in odd numbers, as they are in Greece, though in Italy the numbers are either in threes, for children, or fives for prosperity.

As they leave the church the guests will shower the couple with confetti (either rice or paper) which is intended to bring good luck to them.

The Bride shouldn’t wear any gold until she is given the ring by the Groom. She may also carry a satin bag ("la borsa") which is passed around the guests who place envelopes of money which helps to offset the cost of the wedding.

This particular tradition varies, sometimes the Bride will give dances to the male guests in return for their gifts while in other places the Bride’s grandmother will be in charge of la borsa.

Another way of raising money is for the Groom to have his tie cut up into little pieces and sold as a memento of the celebrationAgain the Greek customs the bride and Groom will break a glass, in this case the number of pieces it shatters into indicates the number of years the couple will share together. They may also release doves.

Wedding reception
Traditional Italian wedding receptions may have up to 14 courses, but prior to the meal the Best man will serve the guests with a sweet aperitif and a toast is given "Per cent’anni" which means "for a hundred years".

When things go quiet in at a reception one of the male guests will shout out a special toast "Eviva gli sposi" which means "Hurrah for the Newlyweds!" The other guests will react very loudly and that usually gets things going again. Alternatively they might use "A kiss for the Bride" which means the Groom must kiss the Bride which again gets things going.

During the reception the guests will dance the Tarantella, and the men hold their jackets open to the side, to demonstrate they are not carrying any weapons.

After the dinner the wedding cake is cut and served to the guests with espresso and coffee.