Wednesday 31 August 2016
Monday 29 August 2016
Friday 26 August 2016
Weddings in the United States
History
In ancient times, weddings were based out of commodity, rather than desire or love. In fact, the word "wedding" implies the security the groom's family provides to the family of the bride when the couple marries.[1] Additionally, brides were chosen based on their economic worth. The wedding had little to do with love. This trend lasted until the 19th Century, when couples started to marry for love.[2]During the 19th Century in America, weddings were usually small family gatherings at the home of either the parents of the bride or the parents of the groom. The ceremonies were intimate and not elaborate. The announcement of the newly married couple took place at their church on the Sunday following the wedding. Weddings did not become elaborate until the 1820s and 1830s, when upper class couples would have wedding ceremonies similar to what is common today. The bride usually wore the best dress she owned, so her dress was not always white, as white dresses were impractical to own. Not until the middle of the 19th century did brides start buying a dress made specifically for their wedding day. At the same time, couples began to hire professionals to prepare floral arrangements and wedding cakes, rather than making them at home.[2]
Today, couples in the United States are waiting later in life to get married. The average age for males getting married in the United States is 27 years old, whereas, women's average age is 25.[3]
Cultural Traditions
Attire
The saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence inside your shoe," dates back to the Victorian era and requires the bride to accessorize her wedding attire in certain ways to promote good luck in her new marriage. Many brides in the U.S. do this for fun. The "old" is supposed to represent the past, particularly the bond between the bride and her family. The bride might choose to wear a piece of jewelry from one of her elders, or another accessory given to her from an older relative. The "new" represents the couple getting married and their future together. Usually, the bride's wedding gown or wedding ring is used as a new item. "Something borrowed" is something that is taken from the families and meant to be returned. By borrowing something, the bride is continuing the link between herself and her family to maintain loyalty and future comfort.[4] The borrowed item must come from a happily married woman in order to pass on marital happiness onto the new couple.[5] "Something blue" represents the bride's faithfulness and loyalty. Easy ways to incorporate the color blue is for the bride to wear blue flowers in her hair or a blue garter.[4] The silver sixpence is meant to be tucked into the bride's shoe and is supposed to bring the new couple wealth in money and love in their new life together.[5]Many brides today choose to wear white bridal dresses at their weddings. However, brides before the 19th century just wore the best dress they owned. It wasn't until the 1840s, when Queen Victoria popularized white bridal dresses by choosing to wear white instead of the traditional royal silver dress.[6]
Brides often accompany their white wedding dresses with a veil. Sometimes seen as an accessory today, the veil has a history of symbolizing a bride's modesty and innocence, namely her virginity.[7]
Before the Wedding
Many brides have bridal showers before their wedding, during which she receives gifts from the guests. The bridal shower is usually thrown by the bride's chosen maid of honor and is humorous in nature.[8] Although it is often seen as a fun and relaxing time for the bride, it wasn't always seen that way. Bridal showers originated in Holland for brides who were refused dowry from their fathers. A woman's friends would give her several gifts to allow her to have the necessary dowry to marry whatever man she chose.[7]Many couples will make precautions so that they will not be able to see each other until their wedding ceremony. Today, this is done merely to uphold tradition and superstition, but the idea stems from the early days when marriages were arranged. In these cases, the bride and groom would meet each other for the first time at their own wedding.[9]
Ceremony and Reception
During the ceremony, it is customary to include bridesmaids and groomsmen in the event. The members of the bridal party are chosen to share the happiness with the couple getting married. Including bridesmaids in the ceremony originated as a technique of confusing evil spirits as to who the actual bride was.[10] Groomsmen originated not for protection, but many centuries ago when men had to capture women in order to marry them. In order to steal the woman they chose to marry, men needed to pick the most capable man to help him, hence "best man".[7]Today, "giving the bride away" has a very different meaning. The bride's father accompanies her on her walk down the aisle to show approval of the groom. Centuries ago, fathers actually did give their daughters away to their future husbands, since females were property of their fathers.[7]
The meaning and origin of the ceremonial kiss that traditionally concludes the ceremony has several different interpretations. In the Roman era, a kiss was used to seal legal bonds and contracts. A marriage, a type of lifelong contract between two people, is sealed with the ceremonial kiss. It is also believed that this kiss allows the couples' souls to mingle together. Today, the wedding kiss is usually just used as a form of endearment.[11]
Wedding cakes are widely seen as symbols of fertility.[12] While now they are an enjoyable snack for the wedding guests, wedding cakes have a more serious history. Sharing the first piece of wedding cake is still a ritual in weddings, but it originated as a way to ensure fertility for the bride in her attempts to have children. Superstition says that a bride cannot bake her own wedding cake or taste it before the wedding, or else risk losing her husband's love. If she keeps a piece of the cake after the wedding, she supposedly ensures that he will remain faithful.[13]
A way that guests at a wedding can participate in giving the bride and groom a lucky future is by the tradition of throwing rice. The superstition originated when guests would throw nuts and grains in the hope of bringing the couple a good harvest and many children to help with the harvest.[6]
As a symbol of luck, the newly married woman traditionally throws her bouquet to the unmarried women at the wedding. The one who catches the bouquet is supposedly the next to be married.[10]
Throwing the bride's garter to the single men at the wedding is a tradition similar to the bouquet toss. The groom must remove the garter from his new wife's leg and toss it to the single men at the wedding. It is commonly believed that this man will be the next one to marry.[14] An older custom in England involved guests raiding the bride's chamber for stockings. These stockings taken from her room would then be thrown at the groom. Whoever landed their stocking on the groom's nose would be the next one to marry.[9] Even earlier than these traditions, it was an ancient custom for the bride or groom to throw the bride's garter to the marriage witnesses to confirm that their marriage had been consummated.[7]
After the Wedding
After the wedding reception, the newlyweds usually leave for their honeymoon, a trip to the destination of their choice. During this trip, which lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, the couple consummates their marriage.[8] The term "honeymoon" comes from ancient Germanic weddings, where the newly married couple would drink mead for thirty days after their wedding. Weddings were only held on a night where there was a full moon. They drank the honey wine for a month, thirty days, until the next full moon, hence the name "honey moon.".[7]The tradition of the groom carrying his new wife across the threshold has many different interpretations. The act today symbolizes luck and the bride giving the groom her virginity.[4] Similarly in older generation, brides had to appear unwilling to give in to their new husband. The husband would pretend to force his new wife into giving in to him by carrying her over the threshold. In the days when men captured their wives and actually did force women to marry them, she was also forced over the threshold because she was unwilling.[7]
American Traditions
Weddings in the United States are the most varied and flexible in the world. There are not many wedding traditions that are unique to the United States because most are derived from other cultures. Most of these customs stem from Europe. Indeed, it is considered an American tradition to follow the traditions of one's culture or religion.[8] That said, some wedding traditions remain as the default the U.S.It is customary to give newlyweds gifts for their new home together at the wedding reception. To prevent duplicate gifts and having to return gifts that are not liked, many couples "register" at department stores. Couples pick out items they would like to receive as gifts, and their friends and family can choose to buy one of those items.[8]
Additionally, although most American weddings are typically elaborate and involve extensive professional planning,[8] some DIY home weddings in America (or including Americans) can be quite simple in terms of ceremony, albeit costly in terms of the sweat equity involved regarding the logistics.[15][16][17]
Religious Traditions
Jewish
In a Jewish wedding both the bride and the groom are walked down the aisle by both of their parents, which is different from other religions.[18]Jewish couples are married under the chupah, which resembles a decorated tent like structure. This symbolizes that the bride and groom are coming together and creating a new home. This religious tradition comes from the Biblical wedding of Abraham and Sarah.[18]
The ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract. The rabbi reads it under the chupah after the ring ceremony. Many couples frame their ketubah and display it in their home. Traditionally, the ketubah was written in Aramaic, but today many Jews use Hebrew instead. Like most married couples have documents to show they are married. The rabbi reads this contract under the chupah after the ring exchange.[18]
Hindu
Hindu weddings have some unique traditions as well. These range from the exchanging of garlands (Jaimala), which represents the acknowledgement of acceptance and respect, to the lighting of a sacred fire (Havan), which represents the commitment the couple has to each other. Other traditions include taking seven steps together as a married couple, wearing Henna on the hands and feet, and the groom putting a dot of red powder on his bride's forehead.[19]Christian
Christian weddings have many traditions that are commonly associated with weddings in general. The most important traditions for Christian weddings are the blessing and exchange of wedding bands and the bride and groom each offering his or her own wedding vows.[20]Types of Weddings Ceremonies
Traditional/Formal
Traditional, formal, religious weddings are the most common type of wedding in the United States. Many couples opt to marry in the church of their faith, as it is common for couples to share the same religion. Whether the couple is Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, or any other religion, it is common practice to get married in the church of that faith. However, many couples today do not share the same faith.These inter-faith couples can also have a traditional wedding ceremony.[21] Religious officials have become increasingly cooperative with marrying couples that are not of the same faith.
It is common for traditional or formal weddings to follow certain norms. These common practices include designer dresses, groomsmen wearing tuxedos, elaborate invitations, beautiful flowers, limousine service, and fine dining and live music at a reception that follows the ceremony.[21]
Destination
Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Destination weddings, or "wedding aways" and "weddingmoons", allow the couple to completely design their wedding ceremony to fit the location. From beach weddings to weddings in Las Vegas or New York City, many Americans are choosing to marry at a location far from home. The options for destinations are limitless.[22]Destination weddings have several advantages. From getting to spend an extended time with family, to an easy transition to a honeymoon, destination weddings are very appealing. Additionally, while destination weddings can be very expensive, they are on average less expensive than weddings at home.[22]
Military
A couple whose bride and/or groom is a member of the Armed Forces may have a military wedding in which the bride and/or groom wears their uniform. A military wedding is considered a formal wedding and guests should dress formally. Often, the guests will also be in the armed forces and will wear their uniforms as well.[23]The ushers who are in the armed forces traditionally form an "arch of steel" with their swords or sabers. However, only active duty servicemen participate, as they can only carry their sword or saber if they are active duty. The arch is usually formed at the conclusion of the ceremony, and the head usher signals the formation by yelling "center face." After the bride and groom pass through the arch, the ushers return to their bridesmaids to exit with them. Civilian ushers may or may not stand at the arch, a decision usually made by the bride and groom.[23]
Elopement
To marry by elopement means that the wedding ceremony is done in secret, usually with just witnesses. Even though eloping seems simple, the marriage's secrecy can complicate family relationships.[24]Couples in the United States choose to elope for many varying reasons. 46% of couples eloping do so because of parental opposition to the marriage, 20% of couples elope to avoid attention, 12% because of financial reasons, 8% due to an unexpected pregnancy, and 14% for other reasons.[25]
Christian chapel ceremonies
The brief ceremony includes a rehearsal, a procession, and a service. During the rehearsal, the mother of the bride lowers the veil for her daughter, to signify a last act of kindness "giving her away". The father walks the bride down the aisle to her waiting groom. After the rehearsal, the wedding celebrant leads the procession and often wears a wedding cross (the kana, a cross with two interlocking wedding rings attached) which symbolizes a couple's commitment to sharing a life together. The wedding celebrant gives a brief welcome and an introductory speech before announcing the bride's entrance. The procession ends with the groom bowing to the bride's father. The father bows in return. The service which ensues is given either in Japanese or English, though quite often in a mix of both. It follows Protestant ceremony, relaxed and not overtly religious. Typically part of 1 Corinthians 13 is read from the Bible. After the reading, there is a prayer and a short message, explaining the sanctity of the wedding vows (seiyaku). The bride and groom share their vows and exchange rings. The chapel register is signed and the new couple is announced. This is often followed by the traditional wedding kiss. The service can conclude with another hymn and a benediction.
The adoption of Christian-style weddings dates back to two events in the 1980s. The first was the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, and the second—among the Japanese—was the televised wedding of the Japanese idol Momoe Yamaguchi. Between 1 and 2.1% of Japan's population is Christian, but "white wedding" ceremonies account for 75% of all Japanese weddings, in what some take as a sign of the country's increasing agnosticism.[83]
Thursday 25 August 2016
Discovering New Uses for Wedding Favors
After attending countless weddings, your shelves and drawers are probably filled to the brim with all the wedding favors and other wedding souvenirs you've acquired.
When cleaning out your shelves, you might consider throwing out some of these mementos, but many times, your old wedding favors can be converted or reused as something entirely different. With some creativity and some fresh wedding ideas, you can find several new uses for them.
Wondering What to Do with All Those Wedding Favors?
Bring new life to your wedding memorabilia with these useful wedding favor ideas:- Put your wedding place cards into a scrapbook along with pictures of your friends' past weddings.
- Turn your old place cards into labels for other belongings or as a bookmark for your organizer or latest read.
Bring a New Scent to Candles and Soaps
Many candle wedding favors are too small to use as a centerpiece for your home decor, but if you hide them strategically around your room or bathroom, they can give your living areas a subtle fragrance. You can also put scented candles or personalized soaps that you have yet to use into your dresser drawer to leave your clothes smelling sweet.Another option is to actually use the items as they were meant to. Create a DIY home spa and light some of your scented candles for a relaxing atmosphere.
Unscented candles can also be grouped together to create a centerpiece for dinner parties and smaller candles can be placed in tea light holders for a whole new look.
Let Them Hang Around!
Keychains and charms can be reused in several ways. You can remove the personalized tag and use them by themselves. You can also customize them to become a bracelet or necklace pendant. You can also add them to your phone as a phone charm or a cute way to decorate your bicycle basket or car rearview mirror.Be resourceful—these things could worth more if you turn them into something new. You can also help your friends shop for unique wedding favors that are bound to be used for their purpose and don't forget to take advantage of all the wedding favor promotions such as free shipping to be had!
Green Wedding Favors and Ideas
Believe it or not, every decision you make in planning your wedding
also involves our planet. Along with the energies expended by the
planes, trains, and automobiles required to bring your loved ones
together, you must also consider the water and electricity used during
your celebration and that which is needed to clean up after the
festivities are over.
Rather than giving your guests a wedding favor that collects dust on a
shelf, consider providing them with a gift that gives back to the earth
instead. Though a famous frog once said, "It's not easy bein' green,"
we at Beau-coup would beg to differ—especially when it comes to doling
out environmentally friendly wedding favors. Some wedding trends may change with the times, but saving the Earth will never go out of style.
Tootsie Pop.
Our suggestions for eco-friendly wedding favors are certain to provide
your guests with some helpful ideas for saving the environment:
Eat it up
Edible favors are one of the best ways to fill your guests up without
leaving waste behind. Cookies, mini-pies, or tarts are always
appreciated. Or, you might look for something that is local to the area
like Vermont maple syrup, Kansas City barbeque sauce,
or Georgia pecans. If nothing comes to mind, take a trip to your
locatl farmer s market, and pick up something fresh home-harvested
honey, a collection of locally grown fruit, or organic herbal tea.
Beau-coup offers whole leaf organic tea sachet favors
that can be personalized with our mini oval custom labels.
Not sure if your guests drink tea? Choose chocolate instead
(organically grown and produced in accordance with fair trade practices,
of course). Endangered Species offers organic milk and dark chocolate
bars (www.chocolatebar.com).
Each wrapper features a different animal at-risk, and a portion of the
proceeds helps save the species. These gifts are sure to leave a good
taste in your guests mouths at the end of the night.
Make a toast
Send your guests home with a half bottle of locally produced organic
wine, and they will have good reason to toast you in the months after
your wedding. Organic wines are free of pesticides, herbicides,
chemical fertilizers, and other synthetic chemicals. In non-organic
wine production, chemical residue from insecticides that are sprayed in
the vineyards may be absorbed by the soil, which is in turn absorbed by
the plants' roots. Buying organic ensures that your guests have a
bottle of wine which is chemical-free—and it guarantees a cleaner and
safer environment for us all. Try to ensure that the bottle is made
from recycled glass whenever possible, too. If you can buy unlabeled
wine, dress up your bottles with personalized wine labels
and put your special brand on your special day.
Plant a tree
Who knew that a tree could fit in a box? For a mere $3, the National
Arbor Day Foundation offers a variety of baby trees in recyclable
plastic tubes. You can even personalize the label to commemorate your
wedding day. Guests can plant the tree outside, grow it indoors for
months, or even store it in a refrigerator. For tropical weddings, give
your guests mini palm trees
to take home. They'll evoke the balmy, sandy beaches in no time. And
finally, Tree in a Box provides just that—a kit with everything your
guests need to grow a tree from a seed. Let your guests plant their
memories right in their own backyards— and your wedding really will be
something they enjoy for the rest of their lives.
Scatter seeds of love
A wise person once said, "Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared
is the flower." If that's true, then why not send your guests home with
seeds of happiness? Beau-coup offers personalized plantable seed cards
and Baby Sprinkles plantable seed favors that are certain to remind
guests of your love with each blooming flower. The seed cards can even
be custom printed with your names, a personal message, and the date of
your event. Or, you might consider giving your guests a mini palm plant
or a lucky bamboo plant. They'll bring your guests luck that'll last long after your wedding!
Keep it clean
Natural soaps, lotions, and handcrafted lip balms can make amazing
gifts. The lack of chemicals and the handcrafting process used to make
these items minimizes the likelihood that they will cause any skin
irritation or dryness for your guests. And in addition to smelling
nice, the essential oils often found in these products are thought to
have their own healing powers. Lavender bath salts can help your guests
relax, while a bar of peppermint soap will help wake them up the next
morning. So if your wedding goes late, they'll have just what they need
to recover from the festive evening!
Pass the flame.
Soy wax candles burn up to 50 percent longer than petroleum-based paraffin candles—and they produce less soot. That means the burning of soy candles does not increase the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. Soy is a renewable resource, which gives it an obvious advantage over petroleum-based paraffin. In addition, soy candles burn at a lower temperature, which allows the scent of essential oils in the candle to disperse faster. Soy wax candles are also cheaper than beeswax (another natural wax alternative). Though they might be more expensive than paraffin candles, this cost is outweighed by a longer burning life. But if, after hearing this, we still haven't convinced you to use soy wax candles, it's none of our beeswax.Donate to a good cause
Your guests' presence at your wedding can do more than support the two of you—it can also support a worthy charity. The I Do Foundation's Favors for Charity program enables you to make tax-deductible donations to the charity of your choice. You can give a set amount or donate a couple of dollars per guest. It's a great way to honor a loved one or remember that special someone who cannot be there on your big day. Add a note to the program or inside the escort card that reads "A donation has been made in your name to (the name of the charity)." If you wish to explain why you chose a certain charity, you may want to create personalized donation cards (but of course this will use more paper, so make sure it's recyclable).Wrap it up nicely
Be sure to use handmade, fair trade gift-wraps and recycled containers for packaging your favors whenever possible. Beau-coup offers modest mini gable boxes constructed from a single piece of sturdy, recycled, eco-friendly cardboard. We also have sheer favor pouches made of sinamay, a natural fiber from the Philippines with a great classic look. But if those aren't your bag, check out our mini floral favor bags, made from textured mulberry paper that contains hand-pressed natural flower petals. Our green wrappings are sure to tie your favors together perfectly!Shrink your carbon footprint
The travel involved to bring your loved ones together is often the biggest contributor to your wedding's carbon footprint. Use the wedding calculator at carbonfund.org to estimate your carbon footprint—then make a donation to the cause and offset the impact of your wedding on our planet.You may find that eco-friendly favors cost a bit more than the alternatives, but you only have one wedding. Favor your guests—and the planet at the same time. Beau-coup is happy to preserve wedding traditions by providing modern green suggestions for you. In doing so, we preserve the Earth for the generations of children that are certain to result from so many happy unions.
Do It Yourself Wedding Favor Ideas
More and more couples are getting into adding personal touches to their wedding. Wedding favors
are definitely an integral part of the wedding. A thoughtful "thank
you" gift not only shows your gratitude to your guests, but also serves
as a reminder of your event. If you are under a tight budget, then
consider making your own favors. Online shops often have plenty of wedding favor coupons
and specials such as free shipping
for any supplies you need that will allow you to save even more. Before you start working on your DIY favors, be sure to consider asking yourself the following questions: Where will the reception be? At which time of the year will the wedding be held? Is there a theme or motif planned out for the wedding or the reception in particular? Is there a hobby or a favorite activity that the engaged couple would like to share or, better yet, known to the guests? All of these could be highlighted in DIY wedding favors.
Seasons can play an important role in selecting a wedding favor. For instance, a choice of a wedding favor can be based on the time of the year the couples met or the season in which the wedding will be held. One can get favor ideas from places too like selecting a delicacy of the city where the couples met and turn those into impressive diy wedding favors by packaging them nicely.
The trick is to wrap favor ideas into creative and distinct packages. For summer weddings, a cardstock hand fan can be made by hand where a recipe to a favorite cocktail or summer drink may be printed on one side and a monogram and wedding date on the other. Add a personalized gift tag that says “Thank you” for a classy, finishing touch.
Sweet treats like candies, cookies, chocolates and nuts can be packed creatively for a perfect DIY wedding favor. Candies wrapped in mini acrylic favor boxes, scalloped-top favor boxes or organza bags with personalized wedding labels or tags on them, finished with a satin ribbon, would surely be a crowd pleaser. Mini glass jars filled with your choice of cookies and nuts, labeled with personalized tags or stickers can make for a sweet experience for the guests. You can even substitute mini glass jars with Chinese take-out boxes for an Asian themed wedding.
Cookies, brownies and chocolate drink mixes may also serve as wonderful DIY wedding favors. Just make a powdered mix of a favorite treat or drink and place them in elegant or quirky favor pouches. Liquid mixes are possible too; just trade the pouches in for a mini cocktail shaker.
For the scent enthusiasts, there are plenty of how-to's in the internet for soap bars, potpourri and candles. These can make for fabulous do it yourself wedding favors with the right packaging. Tin cans may be used for candles, organza bags for potpourri and pillow favor boxes for soap bars. Be sure to finish off with a personalized label.
These do it yourself wedding favors and packaging ideas can be mixed and matched accordingly, so be sure to leave plenty of room for your imagination, creativity and personality to show through.
Summer Wedding Ideas
There's a reason why summer is known as wedding season. The weather is beautiful, bright colors abound, and everybody is in a relaxed mood. When planning your summer wedding, keep it simple. Start with a theme using your favorite colors, motifs, and materials. Be sure to consider your venue though and make sure that your theme fits the scene and the season.Once you have chosen your theme, select your decorations to match accordingly. If you're hosting your event outdoors, use the surrounding trees and flowers in your décor. Hang colorful fabrics from trees, and string lights around the trunks for an evening affair. You can also hang lanterns from the branches and pick fresh flowers to use in your centerpieces. Use rose petals as your aisle and line them with garlands of flowers. If you're worried about the heat, be sure to provide your guests with some ice cold water bottles or some other beverage, personalized wedding fans, or even some colorful parasols to avoid the heat. Either way, be sure to provide some shade for your guests to keep the focus on your ceremony instead of on the massive heat.
If you're hosting your event indoors, then bring the joys of summer inside with plenty of natural elements. You can set up some bouquets with a mix of leafy greens, daisies and roses, and you can even use some tree branches as accents on your gift or buffet table.
Your food should fit the occasion. Avoid overly rich foods, especially if you host your event outdoors, and opt for lighter picnic style fare, with plenty of salads and fresh fruit, along with barbecue style main courses. If you're eating indoors, you can serve some alternative desserts such as ice cream to remind your guests of the joys of summer.
When selecting your summer wedding favors, you can never go wrong with edible wedding favors to hand out to your guests. These can include some custom cookies or go the traditional route with Jordan almonds. Pack your favors in some colorful favor boxes and tie them with some personalized ribbon to put a finishing touch. If you're planning a seaside wedding, be sure to use jars or some natural cotton favor bags to prevent the sea air ruining your wedding favors. You can also hand out favors that relate to your favorite summer activity, such as sports themed wedding favors like personalized golf or tennis balls, travel themed favors such as personalized luggage tags, or even some personalized sea shells if your wedding is beachside.
Overall, keep the weather and your venue in mind when planning a summer wedding and you can't go wrong. Your guests will delight in sharing your special day with you!
Introduction to Traditional Wedding Invitations
Traditional Wedding Invitations
Most people look to books on etiquette for the "right way" to do something. Relax, and instead think of etiquette as a set of traditional practices instead of a set of rules. If you wish to stray a little from tradition, it's really OK to do so!When it comes to wedding invitations, traditionalists favor an oversized, engraved invitation on heavy ecru paper with a tissue layover and an inner envelope sent inside of an outer envelope. The elegance of traditional wedding invitations is often the go-to way to invite people to a celebration.
Components that make up the traditional wedding invitation
For the traditional basics, each mailing will include a wedding invitation with outer envelopes, a response card, and a reception card. If you believe as much as we do that the wedding invitation sets the tone for your event, then you may want to include more. Nice touches for wedding invitations include direction cards, maps, envelope lining, and more. And there are other printed paper products to consider, such as thank you cards or informal cards, programs, place cards, seating cards and more.Invitation enclosures are usually used for formal events such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and corporate dinner/cocktail receptions. There are rules of etiquette surrounding each one, of course!
Response Card
Response (or RSVP) cards allow your guests to inform you if they will be attending your event and how many people they will be bringing with them. Response cards can be classic fold over cards, panel cards or double-sided postcards (with the RSVP wording on one side, and address on the back side). They should be sent out accompanied by an addressed, pre-stamped envelope to encourage your guests to send it back. These cards can be blank with your own handwritten message on them or they can be printed with your wording.
Response deadlines should be no later than two weeks before the special day, or the date your caterer needs a final count. If after two weeks you haven't heard from some people, phone calls can be made to those having trouble putting pen to paper. This gives you time to figure out exactly how many people will be attend.
A helpful trick that will save you lots of time is to lightly number the response cards on the back in correspondence with the number that appears next to your guest on the list. When you receive your response cards, you can just check the number on the card with the number on your list so you won't have a splitting headache trying to read everyone's fancy handwriting.
Having your name and address pre-printed on the front of the Response Card envelope is a handy and easy way to encourage your guests to respond promptly. Traditionally speaking, the host's name and address (for example a bride's parents' address) should appear on the response envelope. If you are part of a blended family or live a long distance from the host(s), you may need use your own discretion. It's traditional to save the first appearance of the bride's and groom's names together until after the wedding. So, if an unmarried couple is living together, have the cards sent to the bride only.
Reception Card
Reception cards are needed only if the reception takes place at a location separate from the ceremony. If they're hosted at the same location, you may choose to say, "Reception immediately following," or "Dinner and Dancing immediately following" to inform your guests that the reception will be held in the same location as the ceremony.
If the ceremony and reception are held in different locations, you may enclose a reception card. Or, when only a select number of guests are invited to the reception, a separate card should be enclosed. It should be of the same paper and type style and is generally half the size of the invitation.
Map/Direction Card
This card may be essential to ensure that no one gets lost or ends up arriving late to your event. You can have simple text directions, guiding your guests step by step to each of your destinations (usually to the church, and to the reception). You can also opt to submit either a hand-drawn map or have the ceremony site give you a copy of their own map and have it printed on the card. Clearly written street names and clear map drawings will certainly help out the chronically lost. Please note that not all brands will allow you to submit your own map. You will have to inquire about this option when you have decided which invitation you would like to order.
For the most elegant look, have the same printer of your invitations also print your directions card. This way, you can be sure that the paper stock chosen will match your invitations perfectly. An alternative to sending the directions cards with the invitations is to send it upon receiving their response card indicating that they are planning on attending your event.
Accommodation Cards
You may want to send this card with the invitations going to your out-of-town guests. It lists hotels or places to rent in the area you are having your wedding. Include phone numbers and any information they will need to know to schedule a place to stay. This is especially helpful if your wedding will take place at a vacation spot.
Additional Matching Items
It is always fun to have your Thank you cards or your Programs printed on the same paper as your invitation and there are still so many options!Save the Date Cards
A great way to let your out of town guests know about your wedding date is to send Save-the-Date cards. They may be essential for planning flights and taking time off around peak vacation times. Save-the-dates should be sent out at least 3 months in advance of your wedding date, but it is recommended to send them 5 months to a year in advance. This card may match your invitation; you can pick a similar card in a smaller size or choose a very simple version of your invitation. You may also opt to pick a card that is more casual or reflects the location or theme of your wedding (Hawaii/tropical, Colorado/Mountains, Hydrangeas, and Lilies etc.).
Informal/Thank You Cards
The informal card can be ordered to match your invitation and is most commonly used as thank you notes. It can be printed with 'Thank You', your names, a monogram or a motif on the outside. The inside is left blank allowing you to write a small personal message. Thank you notes can match your wedding invitations or your personality; just remember that you will need plenty of them. You will be writing thank you notes for more than just your wedding. There are always many occasions surrounding your main event where gifts are given and there are many people to thank for their gift of support. You will want to write a thank you card for each gift given at each event; bridal shower, engagement party, bachelorette party, etc. and they should be sent soon after the gift is received. This means you may be sending thank you notes before your wedding date. They never go bad, so it can't hurt to order more than you think you will need!
At-Home Cards
This card allows you to tell friends and family of your new address and the date you will begin residing there.
Pew Cards
Also known as within-the-ribbon card. This is sent to guests you want to honor by having them seated in reserved pews closest to the altar, or "within the ribbon". This lets the usher know who gets the special treatment.
Programs
Programs are an extra touch of formality that help guests understand the direction a formal ceremony is going in, what is being done next, and the explanation of any special rites that are unfamiliar to people of a different religion. They can also be used as tributes to special people in your lives. For the most elegant look, have the same printer of your invitations also print your programs. This way, you can be sure that the paper stock and typestyle chosen will match your invitations perfectly.
Place Cards
Place cards help your guests find which table they are seated at and are usually blank or printed with your name with space for your guests' names and table number, if they aren't already placed on the table. This is great when you have a special seating arrangement and you want your guests to find their place without any problems. They are also helpful in letting your caterers know who is having the chicken or the vegetarian option. You may tie different colored ribbons on the place cards or use stickers to indicate the different meal choices your guests have made.
Invitation Enclosures
These types of enclosures are usually used for formal events such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and corporate dinner/cocktail receptions.
Response Card
This card allows your guests to inform you if they will be attending your event and how many people they will be bringing with them. Response cards should be sent out accompanied by an addressed, pre-stamped envelope to encourage your guests to send it back. These cards can be blank with your own handwritten message on them or they can be printed with your wording. R.S.V.P. deadlines should be no later than two weeks before the special day, or whenever your caterer needs a final count. If after two weeks you haven't heard from some people, phone calls can be made to those having trouble putting pen to paper. This gives you time to figure out exactly how many people will be in attendance. One simple trick that will save you lots of time is to lightly number the response cards on the back in correspondence with the number that appears next to your guest on the list. When you receive your response cards, you can just check the number on the card with the number on your list so you won't have a splitting headache trying to read everyone's fancy handwriting.Reception Card
One invitation will serve the purpose when all of the guests are invited to both the ceremony and reception and it is at the same location. You may choose to say 'Reception immediately following,' or 'Dinner and Dancing immediately following' to inform your guests that the reception will be held in the same location as the ceremony. However, when the ceremony and reception are held in different locations, you may enclose a reception card. Or, when only a select number of guests are invited to the reception, a separate card is enclosed. It should be of the same paper and type style and is generally half the size.Map/Direction Card
This card may be essential to ensure that no one gets lost or ends up arriving late to your event. You can either hand draw the map or have the ceremony site give you a copy of their own map and have it printed on the card. Clearly written street names and clear map drawings will certainly help out the chronically lost. For the most elegant look, have the same printer of your invitations also print your directions card. This way, you can be sure that the paper stock chosen will match your invitations perfectly. An alternative to sending the directions cards with the invitations, is to send it upon receiving their response card indicating that they are planning on attending your event.Accommodation Cards
You may want to send this card with the invitations going to your out of town guests listing hotels or places to rent in the area you are having your wedding. Include phone numbers and any information they will need to know to schedule a place to stay. This is especially helpful if your wedding will take place at a vacation spot.Italian Wedding Traditions and Customs
Sunday weddings are the luckiest and if a bride wears green the night before the wedding, it will bring luck and abundance to the couple. Conversely, if she wears gold on the day of the wedding or before it, she will receive bad luck.During the proposal, a groom will typically serenade her first and then present her with a diamond ring because of the belief that a diamond was created by the flames of love.
On the way to the church, the bride and groom will receive several challenges involving a fallen broom, a crying baby, or other household chores to test their skills before marriage. In Northern Italy, the groom brings the bride’s bouquet and he chooses the color and style of the flowers as his gift to her.
To ward off the evil-eye from envious people, a groom should carry a piece of iron (toc ferro). At the reception, all the men at the reception are supposed to kiss the bride for good luck and to make the groom jealous.
Strong drinks are served to start the festivities and to toast the couple with “Per Cent’anni” which means “for 100 years.” Other popular toasts are “Evviva gli sposi” which means “Hurray for the newlyweds” and is shouted whenever there’s a lull in the party or shouts of “kiss for the bride” mean that the newlyweds must kiss to show their affection.
During the reception, the bride carries a satin pouch where guests can place envelopes of money for the chance to dance with her. Of course no reception would be complete without dancing the traditional tarantella, which is the dance of the spider and involves light and quick movements with passionate hand gestures.
The food is almost as important as the ceremony and guests may be served up to 14 different courses and of course the cake is served with espresso. The groom also has his tie cut into little pieces that are then sold off to the guests by the groomsmen to pay for the band. The groom should probably bring a cheap tie for this event.
One of the oldest traditions is the giving of candy-coated Jordan almonds. Meant to represent the bittersweet nature of marriage, these treats are given to guests wrapped in tulle, or pretty pouches, in quantities of 5 or 7, which are lucky numbers.
At the end of the wedding day, a couple would break a vase or glass and the number of pieces was supposed to represent the number of years that they would be happily married.
As in many cultures, during the reception, friends of the groom would sneak away to play tricks on the couple such as walling-in the door of the couple’s new home or putting itching powder on the bed. Finally, after the wedding in Naples, instead of thank you notes, brides are expected to bake cakes or some other baked good to thank her guests for attending the wedding.
Outdoor Wedding Decorations
An outdoor wedding is great for couples who are nature lovers and for those who simply want to get away from the hurried and enclosed office spaces they spend most of their weeks in. The ceremony and the reception can be held in one area just within a few steps from each other.
Outdoor weddings are usually referred to as garden weddings and garden weddings often hint of spring and summer motifs and colors. Here are few outdoor wedding decorations ideas that you can incorporate into your wedding.
Tie designer leaf ornaments or round paper lanterns to nearby trees for an eye-catching outdoor wedding decoration. Try brighter shades like pink, blue, yellow, green and orange for paper lanterns as those colors stand out more. Floral arrangements make wonderful centerpieces. Place flowers in glass vases for a traditional look but give it personality by personalizing the glass vases with an engraved monogram or the bride and groom's names embedded on them.
Need ideas? Check out our engraved glass vase or engraved glass photo vase.
Another option is to use decorative silver mint julep cups to hold the freshly-cut flowers. These make stunning centerpieces when clustered at the center of the reception table. Personalized mini bud vases not only make great table decorations, but can also be taken home by your guests as party favors. A group of mini palm plants, about six to eight inches in height and in no more than 1.5 inches pot base, could also make for a multi-functional centerpiece. Wrap the palm plant in organza or elegant cellophane wrapping from the pot to the middle part of the plant and tie a ribbon around the wrap and hang tag to get the party favor ready.
Use place cards that are eco-friendly. There are plenty of place cards available that have plantable seeds in their designs. These place cards serve double as outdoor wedding decorations because of their spring designs which include butterflies, flowers and flower pots. Put place cards in butterfly or flower place card holders that double as favor boxes for an economical twist.
Provide guests with a copy of the wedding program to keep them up to pace with the ceremony, or the reception program, but do so with style. Print the program on paper fans in various colors. Punch a hole through the bottom of the fan and insert a ribbon through it for a polished and classy finish.
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