"Aw"

I perhaps witnessed the most romantic event in real life last night.

A friend of mine was recently engaged and finally told my sorority that we are both involved in. After having a candle passing (a candle goes around in a circle of girls, once for getting a boyfriend, twice for getting a necklace with fraternity letters on it, three times for getting pined, four for engagement and five for being pregnant) her fiancé's fraternity brothers came up to our sorority house. They then sung a song dedicated to her and gave her flowers, his brothers with one color flowers and he had a different color flower. 

This happiness added to the sadness of loosing our seniors, well, lets just say that I lost it half way through. 

This gives me hope that there is true romance in the world and that everything is not just in movies.

Yey!

For your enjoyment, I have found yet another worst wedding moments video. Please pay attention to the second groom. If I were that bride, there might be some discussion...I mean yelling... later on.

Vows

I often find myself wondering about things to write about at strange times. For example today, while I was supposed to be listening in one of my classes, I started thinking about my next topic and therefore, here it is. Wedding vows, should you write them or use the traditional "in sickness and in health..."

Well, I think that they could both be very romantic. On the one hand you have a profession of love in front of friends and family. Why you love the person, what qualities you like, and maybe a joke at the expense of your loved one.

On the other hand, a simple tide and true method one that is simple and sweet. There is an element of hearing the specific words "I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband/wife..." that let the friends and family know that it is real and it is happening.

Which ever someone may choose, the words that are spoken will tell all the world that the couple has entered into marriage and they are tied together.

Here comes the bride

I was looking through the post's that have written through out the past couple of months and I realized that I have not written or showed a video on wedding dresses. Since the dress is one of the most important things in a wedding, I think that it is about time to give credit to the gowns that turn a girl into a princess for a day. Even though I have never been one for high fashion, I decided not to let my preferences get in the way of your enjoyment, so here are a couple of videos of fashion shows focused on wedding dresses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcZ16jqvXN0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I55fTtTSNAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sYnsusG9po&feature=related

Can't dance? Worried that you are going to look ridiculous at during your first dance?

Well I did some of the leg work for you and found a video that is a "how to" for a classic box step. Granted that it most likely won't work for all of the first dance songs that are out there, but it is a start. :-)

You are getting married where?!

I have heard many things about destination weddings.

They add an exciting and exotic twist to the ceremony, they can be extremely romantic and last but not least, they are expensive. 

Honestly, I think that it would be definitely be a romantic and exotic event, to be married on a cliff in Hawaii, or on a beach at sunset in the Caribbean. 

The major problem that I may have with a destination wedding somewhere, would be the cost. Asking family to travel to your hometown to the wedding is one thing in my mind and completely another to ask an entire family to fly to a foreign country. 

If I, along with my fiancée, decided to get hitched on a beach in Maui or something along those lines I would like to think that they would decided to spend the money in order to share in the love and joy that would be celebrated that day.

Did you know?

Is there anything that Disney didn't think of?

Along with the magical ceremonies that couples can have in Walt Disney World, they can also have their very own wedding dress created with the Disney princesses in mind. 

That's right, you could walk down the isle with in a Ariel, Aurora, or Cinderella Disney Wedding Dress.

Check it out!

What not to wear

In every event that one must attend through out life, there is always the nagging question "what am I going to wear?" 

Sometimes there is a quick answer and life goes on, but other times it is a agonizing decision that is accompanied with several wardrobe changes and cloths flung every which way. 

This might even be more stressful when one is attending a wedding. You must look nice and depending on the type wedding, have the proper attire. 

Below is a list of general guidelines so you can skip the hurling of dresses across the room and pick what will make you look stunning in no time!

(Courtesy of About.com)

Do's and Don'ts 

Don't wear white because it competes with the bride. There are plenty of colors available.

Don't wear black or sequins during the daytime 

Don't wear club wear or overtly sexy clothing(strapless, see-through, skin tight ect.)

Don't wear opera-length gloves (to the top of the arm) with anything but sleeveless or strapless gown

Do use good judgement if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the vent. A pastel or soft floral dress for daytime or a little black dress for evening (after 6 p.m.) will take you almost anywhere.

What the..?

Your walk down the isle being a walk across a 18 story bridge, saying your "I do's" on a roller coaster or having the entire wedding take place at a 7-11. 

These are only some of the "beyond the norm" ways that couples decide they want to celebrate their new life. 

I understand that people want to break with tradition sometimes, but the woman who walked "down the isle" in front of a 7-11 carried her bouquet in a "Big Gulp" cup. That to me personally, is just a little on the ridiculous side.  

I don't know, maybe I have just an old world view on weddings. You know, in a church or a garden someplace. 

Then again, I am always trying to find excitement in my life, maybe when I get married someday I will have the ceremony in a ice chapel. Nah... I want to wear a strapless gown.

Update

I just wanted to check in with my readers and say that the Blogger website is having problems posting my entries. I will have them up as soon as possible.

Thanks!

Color of my Love

With all the items to be worried about in the process of planning a wedding, one might never stop to think about the meaning of flowers.

During Victorian times due to the lack of choices, specific flowers were given meanings to enhance the gift.

With the verity of the choices today, the simple arrangement of beautiful flowers is enough to say something.

However, it is still fun to think about. How many people dissect the meaning of the flowers that they receive?

So, when picking out a flower for your wedding keep in mind what you might be saying with you bouquet.

For a list of historical meanings from the Society of American Florists click here

And for a more in depth list of meanings click here.

Something Worn for Life

Using the last post as a jumping point, this one is devoted to engagement rings.

 

Probably the most orthodox way is going to a quality jeweler like many others have done. This way you get personalized service. This to me is the best option because you can try on rings and be sure that you are getting a quality item.

 

However, for the increasing Internet age, there are those that would rather shop online for convenience in their PJ’s. One of the more interesting websites being used as a stating point is the one and only The Knot.com.

 

They have designer ring to browse and then if you want, it will lead you to the designers website.

 

Once you click on a ring to view, there will be a menu bar to the left that has many different options for ring browsing. I highly suggest it, even if your not looking for a ring, they always make me cheer up on a bad day!

 

Also they have a design your own ring section, which, me being a girl I found fun and useful in designing the ring of my dreams that depending on the salary of my future husband I might just get.

 

I have also heard places that you should spend about 3 months salary on an engagement ring. Whether that is true or not, I have personally to see.

 

I will leave you with a quote that I like and as to not make me sound totally materialistic, that was said  by a local jeweler that I had of chatted with once, “I doesn’t matter if it is a $10,000 ring or a $100 dollar ring, it is what it represents.”

 

A Circle Represents That Which Does Not Stop.

Promise rings? Pre-Engagement rings? Pinning? Oh My!?

What are a girl, and a guy for that matter, to do?

 

Promise rings can come down to a few different meanings, pre-engagement, purity and, friendship. However, possibly the most well known meaning is the first one listed above.

Pre-engagement is what it sounds like, a promise of engagement for a couple. They may purchase one of these because the may have decided that in the future they want to get married but for some reasons or another, they can’t at the time.

 

Pinning is mainly a college ritual and more specifically within fraternities and sororities and it is similar to promise rings. When two member of a Greek organization decided that they may someday in the future want to get married, or stay together after college, the man will give his girlfriend his fraternity pin.

 

Basically, with all of these choices I believe that it comes down to the couple and what they want. Some, think anything before engagement is a little odd, or “dumb” as some of my friends have said. Others believe that it is a very sweet thing and when they get to that point will have no problem with the rings or pins.

Will you?

A friend of mine found this link for me. It is a little blurb on 5 geeky proposals. Personally though, I think they are cute (as does my roommate and others that I have shown the webpage to).

Rejected

Ah, Valentines Day. One of the most wonderful days of the year. Well, not for some unfortunately, like this poor man who was rejected in front of a stadium full of people.

Roses

I found this video while surfing around the web. It's a how-to video on making a wedding bouquet.

The Luck O' The Irish

One of the most outward symbols of Irish relationships and love is the Claddagh Ring. You may recognize them, a heart toped with a crown and encircled by hands.  The meaning behind these symbols are that the heart means love, the crown means loyalty and the hands mean friendship.

 

In America many people will wear them as a sign of their heritage and an outward symbol of a person?s availability. With a quick glance you can tell if the woman or man is single or in a relationship (if the point of the heart is facing towards the knuckle of either hand this means "in a relationship" and the point facing away from the knuckle means "single").

 

In Ireland the ring takes on a deeper meaning. The ring is the bride's wedding band and there are stricter rules for wearing it. The more significant rule for this post is that for a wedding band, the ring is worn with the point of the heart facing the knuckle on the left hand.

 

Another Irish tradition is that the couple walks to the church together and on-onlookers throw rice and larger items to bless the marriage.

 

Also the Irish have strict days on which to get married. They will not have weddings on Sunday, Lent or Christmas. The Irish are very religious and the will not put God before themselves.

 

As with the most famous day in Irish culture, St. Patrick's Day is considered to be the luckiest wedding day.

 

There are also Irish sayings for times in the year and the week that are best to get married. The sayings are the days of the week and the months of the year respectfully:

 

Monday for health, 

Tuesday for wealth, 

Wednesday the best day of all, 

Thursday for losses,

Friday for crosses,

Saturday no day at all,

 

Marry when the year is new, always loving, kind, and true. 

When February birds do mate, you may 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 and for man. 

Marry in the month of May, you will surely rue the day. 

Marry when June roses blow, over land and sea you'll go. 

They who in July do wed, must labor always for their bread. 

Whoever wed in August be, many a change are sure to see. 

Marry in September's shine, 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 joy will come, remember. 

When December's rain fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Lastly, I leave you with a Irish toast that I found and thought suitable for an Irish wedding post.

 

When we drink, we get drunk.

When we get drunk, we fall asleep.

When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.

When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.

So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven!

 

Thanks to the following websites for the information.

http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/west_europe_traditions/irish_traditions.html

 

http://www.romanceclass.com/weddings/ireland/

Super Bowl

Sitting in front of the T.V. watching Bruce Springsteen sing “Born To Run” at the Super Bowl Half Time Show, got me in the mood to dance to a classic. Although, I don't know if I would dance to "Baby Got Back" in front of my friends and family. 

Dessert

Bored of the normal traditional wedding cake? Try something different!

New ways of ending your wedding reception have included, dessert bars, cupcake towers, and, petifore cakes. 

 

Dessert bars have lots of different desserts that can be beautifully decorated to match your theme or your color. Meringue, cookies, chocolate cover pretzels cupcakes and pastries are only some of the options that you can have. 

 

Cupcake towers are also a good substitution. You can have a tiered stand and place the cupcakes on top of them. This is a perfect solution if you don’t want your guests to be filled to the brim after dinner and dessert. Also, if you don’t want to but into a huge beautiful cake that you paid so much for.

 

A Petifore cake, French for “small oven”, is another small option for your stuffed guests. However, these are miniature individual decorated cakes. They are often covered with fondant and decorated butter cream icing. For those of you who do not speak cake, Fondant is a doughy shapeable mixture often used to cover cakes and butter cream icing is a sweet frosting frequently used to cover cakes and decorate them.

One sided or two sided?

So, one of the "discussions" that I have had with my boyfriend is if, a wedding day is the bride's day, the groom's day, or both.

Personally, I'm a little biased towards the brides. I think that after all the dreaming, talking, and planning we do about our wedding day; we should get a little more attention. 

That being said, I also believe that it is both the bride and the groom's day. After all, they are starting a new life TOGETHER.

If the day ended up only being for the bride and her every wish, then it would be just a big, spoiled, Sweet 16. Except for a puffy, expensive, white dress. Oh wait, that already happens on MTV's "My Super Sweet 16."

At the end of the day, I hope that the process of planning a wedding and the day it's self, is a joyful one where no one becomes a Bridezilla, Groomzilla, or Momzilla and the couple can celebrate together equally, well, almost. 

Why hello

So, I know what some of you may be thinking, “ A blog about weddings? Really?”

I decided to make this blog fun take on weddings because, well, weddings are fun. Despite tears of people who are watching a loved one get married, after the ceremony and reception, they are fun plain and simple.

Now, if you have a man in your life, which you might since your looking at my blog on weddings, they may be shaking their head. I know my boyfriend was when I told him this I was doing this.

Actually, it more like a playful punch after some of his friends made fun of him. This was after they found out about the blog and that I caught a bouquet at a wedding a week and a half ago. (P.S. I’m not a wedding freak or a girl that is obsessed with getting married, I just love weddings)

I digress though, point being, even if you’re a guy you can have fun at weddings and with weddings.  

I hope that you enjoy my blog filled with wackiness, fun, advice and a few surprises here and there. 

 Happy reading!