You & Your Wedding

lanning to get married? Looking for exclusive ideas for wedding day? Search no more: I will share with you innovative fantastic ideas to make your wedding stand out and be remembered for years to come!

If you want to have a wedding that is truly out of this world, it is actually very simple to achieve! “How?” I hear you ask. Well, all you need to do is to have an alternative style of dress, or to replace the usual Meldenson march with something a little more passionate, such as hard rock music for example! All invited to your wedding will be surprised and it will make your wedding truly unforgettable. If, however, you think that hard rock music is a little too much to bear, then how about putting on one of your favourite songs that is also original and lively?

We conducted a painstaking amount of research into the subject of weddings and uncovered several marriage ceremonies that you could call ‘out of the ordinary’. These ceremonies are famous throughout the world for their extravagance and significance. We found ‘wild’ weddings, ‘fairytale’ weddings, ‘ethnic-style’ weddings, ‘exotic’ weddings, ‘retro’ weddings or even ‘time-machine’ wedding and, last but not least, ‘art-style’ weddings. In the next few paragraphs, we will take you on a guided tour of these weddings and give you a report on the types of weddings that are out there for you to enjoy.

Wild weddings

We shall begin with the ‘wild’ wedding. This type of wedding requires you to be extremely brave, to cast away your inhibitions and to simply revel in the rush of adrenaline. The ‘wild’ wedding really does lives up to its name – it is so flamboyant and extreme! If you want your wedding to be in this style, you need bags of energy to be able to really let off steam and to party!

To be specific, a ‘wild’ wedding is not a standard marriage ceremony; it is an exuberant fantasy which brings with it a tide of pleasure. So, how does one achieve a wedding such as this? Well, you need to think about how you can make alterations to the typical wedding scenario. In place of a bouquet you could carry a wreath, for example, you could wear Gothic attire instead of a wedding dress or hire unusual transport like a fast, sports car. How about organising a banquet on a quiet country lane or in a surgery? You could add to the fantasy of the occasion by incorporating alternative pranks into the ceremony. For two whole days you and your guests will be kept amused! At the end of the day, a ‘wild’ wedding needs to do what it says on the tin – be wild! The idea of fantasy is to know no boundaries or inhibitions! Use this as a basis for your own ‘wild’ wedding!

Fairytale weddings

The next type of alternative wedding is the ‘fairytale’ wedding. As you can probably guess, dear readers, fairytale weddings are weddings that, yes you guessed it, are based on fairytales! Fairytale weddings are typically based on fairytales such as “Cinderella” or “Sleeping Beauty.” The dresses will be reminiscent of fairytale dresses and the heroes of the fairytales will always be present at your ceremony. These heroes of the stories make for wonderful entourage. If you choose to be a Cinderella on your big day, then you will need a fairy godmother, a king and even some ugly sisters! Of course, you must have a wicked stepmother too. The crux of the occasion is the Ball, to which you will invite your ‘handsome prince’ – the groom. The celebrations end at midnight at which time a pumpkin-style carriage will draw up and whisk you away!

Ethnic weddings

The next type of wedding is the ‘ethnic-style’ wedding. ‘Ethnic style’ essentially means national style. Ok, so what does this mean you ask yourselves? Put simply, if you choose to have a wedding in ethnic style, then the guests, the groom, the bride and the caterers must all be dressed in national costume. The entertainment at this type of wedding is in the form of rituals, customs and observations of traditional, national ways. Revive old traditions from food to old elegant clothing. This ancient atmosphere will create time-machine wonders – it will take you and your guests centuries back; as though you were one of your ancestors! The ideas for a ethnic wedding can be derived from customs of your motherland as well as from traditions of another country that you are fond of. Whichever you choose, you will feel like a true national!

Exotic weddings

The next type of alternative wedding is the ‘exotic’ wedding. An ‘exotic’ wedding is similar to a wild wedding. But where at the wild wedding you can be elaborate with your dreams, at an exotic wedding you can incorporate your hobbies. If you love parachute jumping, then go ahead! If you like motorcycles, then no problem! Tie some tins-cans to a Vampire and off you go! Just make sure you have a courtege for the motorcycles. The bride can be dressed in white leathers with a bandana on her head in place of a veil. The groom can wear tight-fitting, black trousers instead of a morning suit and a necktie. A bride and groom on a motorcycle with tin-cans attached to the back, What a sight to behold!

Underwater weddings

Have you ever heard of an underwater wedding? Well, this style of wedding is a type of exotic wedding! The couple’s first kiss is underwater as well as the exchanging of the rings and even the signing of the register! To make the occasion even more exotic, you could have the ceremony on a desert island. Although whether you can call it a desert island after you have planned your wedding on it remains to be seen!

Retro weddings

The next alternative wedding is the ‘retro-style’ wedding. This style is in keeping with the period of the ’60s to the ’90s. What can we say about this type of wedding? Well, the traditions, the music and the attire all are reminiscent of this period. The bride and the groom wear clothing that is typical of the time and the music and customs also conform to the period. Classic, ethnic and beautiful styles are all characteristic of ‘retro style.’

Body-paintings: art-style wedding

The final, alternative-style wedding is the ‘art-style’ wedding. If you know anything about art-style, then you will realise that if you have this type of wedding, you don’t just need to be brave, you need to be VERY brave! Art-style involves decorating the body with special paints. Art style is contemporary in its design. The wedding attire consists of very unusual body paintings that can be almost anything depends on your taste and fantasy. Just imagine!

Eastern Touch

Influenced by an eastern tradition called mehendi to decorate bride’s palms, feet. In Western variations it expands to back and shoulders. Imagine, a bride, with beautifully decorated hands, feet, shoulders and back, wearing open wedding clothes to demonstrate this artistic design.

Of course, to have this type of wedding it is also extreme. It is a very amusing way to enjoy the wedding. To put it simply, if you are a creative person who is not afraid of anything and anyone, then why not go for it?

This year the hottest wedding invitations styles take their cue from the world around us. Colors both bold and subtle, patterns that make an immediate impression and styles that combine tradition and innovation in a unique, contemporary look are all great styles. Your wedding invitations will set the tone for the wedding of your dreams when you choose from a variety of can’t miss wedding invitation styles taken from today’s hottest designers. Take a look at what the top designers are offering for your 2009 wedding invitation needs.

Vera Wang

Bold prints and delicate, subtle patterns combine in designer Vera Wang’s wedding invitation lines. Wang mixes contemporary and traditional in a style that is unabashedly joyful, un-self-consciously playful and inimitably modern. In the Vera Wang Retro Verso line, Wang turns tradition on its head to print on both sides of the invitation, pairing bold prints with delicate patterns to create wedding invitations that are memorable and unique.

Vera Wang Retro Verso Dual Sided Gingko Wedding Invitations are simplicity embodied. One side features a bold imprint of the lovely fan-shaped gingko biloba leaf in reverse print, while the invitation appears on the other side, framed by a delicate spray of gingko leaves traced along the border. Lovely for the modern bride who still wants to offer a nod to tradition. It’s an especially apt choice for an Oriental themed wedding.

Vera Wang’s William Arthur Black and Pink Paisley Letterpress Wedding Invitations are delightfully retro with a modern punch of color. Black and pink play against each other in a paisley-inspired flower print in bold black detailed with pretty-as-pink touches. The hand-lined pink envelope completes the ensemble that is both whimsical and very Art Deco at the same time.

Anna Griffin

The Retro Verso and Letterpress wedding invitation lines from Vera Wang are absolute can’t miss wedding invitation choices for today’s modern bride. Designer Anna Griffin focuses on the traditional, playing with touches of ribbon, satin embossing and layered panels to create a feeling of opulence and timeless elegance.

Anna Griffin Celadon Repousse Wedding Invitations: Anna Griffin offers a subtle and elegant square invitation bordered with a pale green botanical print. The ivory center panel features an embossed border and is bound with satin ribbon at all four corners. The invitation is a statement of timeless elegance without being caught in the lock-step of engraved tradition. Pretty, subtle and definitely bridal, this is an ideal invitation choice for any formal wedding.

Anna Griffin Platinum Toile Wedding Invitations: Beautiful invitations that save you money, is there anything better? The Platinum Toile Wedding Invitations from the Anna Griffin line is only available blank. Each invitation consists of a platinum-bordered ivory card that can be printed with your invitation wording, a vellum gatefold sleeve to wrap around it and a matching bow to create a truly romantic wedding invitation. Make a romantic statement with your wedding invitation or announcement by choosing this or one of Anna Griffin’s other floral printed lines of wedding invitations.

Custom Mix ‘n’ Match Wedding Invitations

Are you looking for wedding invitations that are completely and totally your own? Custom Mix ‘n’ Match Wedding Invitations fit the bill. You can choose your print colors, choose the color of your envelope linings and even choose the style of your enclosures. In fact, there are so many custom options that your wedding invitations are bound to be completely one of a kind.

Custom Mix ‘n’ Match 7 x 7 Pocket Fold Invitations

Classic elegance and contemporary styling combine in this unusual wedding invitation style. You have a choice of 90 different color papers, including a range of metallic colors from pearl white to lapis blue. Customizations available for the Mix ‘n’ Match wedding invitations include the color of the liner paper, color of the backing paper and color of the invitation panel. The pocket fold is contemporary and sleekly elegant, ideal for today’s bride with a sense of timeless style.

Reagan 3-Layer Wedding Invitations

Who said the only thing that comes in layers is the wedding cake? The Reagan 3-Layer Wedding invitation is part of the Custom Mix ‘n’ Match wedding invitation collection. The three layer panel invitation can be customized in literally hundreds of ink and paper colors, making your wedding invitations truly one-of-a kind creations. Choose two different backing colors, one panel color and ink color, customize with your chosen type style and pick out an envelope to accent or contrast with your invitations.

Your wedding is your day, a day when your personal style should hold sway. Invite your guests to your wedding in style, your own personal style, with a wedding invitation that catches the attention of your guests from the start.

Darling of the paper craft industry, graphic designer Anna Griffin comes by her love of art and design naturally, she grew up in a family of artists. It is also not surprising that her love of art brought her to wedding invitations – one of her first jobs out of college was working with famed wedding designer Vera Wang. In 1994, Griffin set out on her own, launching a line of custom designed, hand-crafted wedding invitations that borrow heavily from beautiful traditional botanical prints and Victoriana.

In the years since, the name Anna Griffin has become synonymous with high quality paper crafting designs. Her company released the first line of imprintable wedding invitations for the home crafter, do-it-yourself bride who wanted a hand in making her own invitations without sacrificing a professional quality wedding invitation. Anna Griffin invokes vellum and ribbon, elegant traditional patterns and all the details that make wedding finery, well, fine.

While the Anna Griffin line now encompasses craft papers of all kinds for home scrap-bookers and textile patterns, wedding invitations are still at the foundation of her success. Anna Griffin wedding invitations are among the most beautiful and sought after of all the major design lines.

The Anna Griffin Wedding Album line of wedding invitations is the epitome of the Griffin style. Resplendent in ribbons, decorated with touches of platinum and silver, they are elegant and stylish in a classic and traditional way. The Anna Griffin Celadon Repousse wedding invitations are an example of Griffin’s ability to combine modern ideas with traditional patterns and present a wedding invitation that is as timeless as it is modern. The conventional is in the feeling, stately and elegant, but the color, a subtle jade, and the square shape are definitely taken from the modern book of weddings. The sage patterned background panel is set off by the sage ribbon corners that hold the custom created Oyster white printed panel against the delicate floral pattern.

Another traditional, but not conventional, design offered in the Anna Griffin Wedding Album collection is the Platinum Swirls wedding invitation. The invitation consists of four separate layers, in the tradition of the most romantic and elegant of handmade invitations and Victorian cards. The backing layer is a heavyweight ecru with a fine platinum border, in the tradition of wedding invitations throughout the generations. A delicate paper patterned with platinum swirls forms a middle layer between the ecru backing and the elegantly bordered wording panel. Between the swirls and your wording, a satin platinum ribbon lends an additional touch of elegance.

The Anna Griffin Floral Wedding Invitations collection is pure romance personified. These floral-patterned papers are the designs on which Anna Griffin has built her reputation and on which her personal style is based, and they are nowhere more at home than they are in wedding invitations. Floral patterns embellish envelope linings and decorate wedding invitations. Floral prints lend a romantic touch to all of the accessories and elements of wedding stationery, including save the date cards, enclosure cards and thank you cards. As pretty and traditional as the patterns are, though, the wedding invitations bring a modern aesthetic to patterns taken from antique botanical prints.

The modern touch is evident in the styling of the Floral Roses Matchbook Invitation, which includes a printed or printable panel and a floral jacket that can be tied together with an elegant satin ribbon, included with the invitation. The Matchbook style is a delightful nod to modern paper crafters, who routinely fasten papers together with buttons, ribbons and bows. The rose pattern on the matchbook is reminiscent of the most romantic of Victorian prints.

Another delightfully romantic Anna Griffin design combines tradition and modern style with lovely roses in a completely different and unusual wedding invitation. The wedding invitation includes a printed or printable panel on which you can print the wording of your invitation. The heavy ecru paper is embellished with a subtly embossed border that is designed to peek at the sides of the scalloped, rose-patterned vellum wrapper. The entire wrap is tied with a delicate satin ribbon and bow to complete a wedding invitation that evokes the romance of the Victorian era.

One of the most innovative and bold of the Anna Griffin wedding invitation designs, though, is the button pocket invitation style. The Black and White Floral Button Pocket Invitation is part of the Anna Griffin printable wedding invitation collection. Each wedding invitation set includes an ecru invitation panel with a beveled border, a button pocket with a diagonal slash design and matching envelopes. Other printable wedding invitations in the Anna Griffin line include floral vellum side panels, buttons and ribbons.

In a very short time, designer Anna Griffin has made a name for herself as a graphic designer who can combine romance and whimsy, throw in a touch of elegance and create wedding invitations that are unique and memorable

Choosing unique wedding invitations can be a daunting task when it comes to planning your big day. For many couples, wedding invitations are selected before the details of the event itself are finalized. Picking wedding invitations that you love is a great way to start the process of planning a wedding. Beautiful and unique invitations can be the icing on the cake to an already perfect day. The wedding invitation also sets the tone for your day, by offering clues to the kind of wedding your guests will attend; so it is important that you choose a wedding invitation that speaks to your unique style and complements the style of your wedding.

There are thousands of different types of wedding invitations available, from classic and traditional to modern and funky. The choices are wide and far reaching. Choosing that one invitation style that is perfect for the two of you can be a long and intimidating task. You know that you want a unique invitation that begins to tell the tale of the life you are creating as a couple, not an easy task, but it can be done! Finding a unique wedding invitation starts with a conversation.

The decision you and your fiancé have is only one of many when it comes to planning your wedding day. If you have planned a themed wedding, then a unique wedding invitation can be a little easier to come up with. Let your imagination go with the theme of your wedding and do not be afraid to step out of the box. If you are having a Hawaiian themed wedding, you could send out invitations to your guests that have images of luaus and Hawaiian flower leis.

If you and your fiancé would prefer an oriental theme, you can choose to send intricate oriental invitations. If something more offbeat appeals to you both, send an anchor or pirate hat shaped invitation for a pirate themed wedding, or an old-world style invitation on parchment paper that looks like they have been hand written for a very traditionally themed wedding.

Barring a themed wedding, chances are there is something unique about it, perhaps your wedding color. You can bring the colors of your wedding party into your invitations, although you do not want to just send out white and teal green invitations. Choose an interesting designed or textured paper in teal green and off set it with a sheer cover in cream. The best thing to do when using wedding colors for your invitations is to step out of the box and use your imagination.

Perhaps there is a hobby that both of you love to do. You can use this ‘theme’ in your wedding invitations as well. If you both love to fish, you could use fishing line and lures for your invitations, or a hobby of wood-working could provide you with a way to expand your hobby into creating some special invitations. Regardless, if there is a hobby that the two of you share that helps to define you as a couple, don’t be afraid to use it to your advantage and choose the best part of your hobby to direct your unique wedding invitation choices.

There are many choices when it comes to wedding invitations that are pre-made. While you may not want to choose a pre-made pack of wedding invitations, you can mix and match from a variety of sets to create a wedding invitation set that is totally unique to you and your spouse to be. Really love that Vera Wang paper but dig the Anna Griffin envelopes? Well, order them both and put them together. As long as you both like it – there’s nothing wrong with mixing up a few different sets to create your own unique wedding invitations. Remember, this day is all about the two of you and your choices and individuality should ring through the entire event, starting with the invitations.

There are also many options for mix and match wedding invitations. These are often sets of invitations that have many different options available for each of the pieces of your invitation set, from invitation paper to envelopes, fonts and scripts and more. By hand selecting these choices, you can create an individualized look to your invitations that speaks of the two of you as a couple without having identical invites that someone else has.

Being unique in all your wedding choices is what many couples are looking for. Most do not want to have a wedding that is almost the same as the wedding you and your friends attended last summer. Select want a fresh, new look that will be unique to you and be different from everyone else. This is your special day and it should be all about you two as a couple, and you can begin this tradition with unique and individualized wedding invitations. Check out the variety of invitations that are available and start choosing your own personal style.

It’s only fitting that designer Vera Wang produces a line of wedding invitations that break the mold with elegance and style. After all, her career as a famous designer was inspired by her unsuccessful search for a wedding dress. Wang, seeking the ideal wedding dress for a sophisticated, adult bride, was dismayed to find that nearly everything she looked at had a “sameness” to it, and that they all seemed to be designed for “younger brides”. It took a few years, but Wang took that disappointment in finding the right wedding dress and turned it into a bridal design company.

Vera Wang’s wedding invitation designs carry through the same bold, elegant and innovative eye that she brought to fashion design. The invitations range from classically elegant to whimsical and buoyant, but they all represent Wang’s unmistakable flair for the striking and the dramatic.

Vera Wang’s Wedding Collection features wedding invitations in several different lines. Each line is distinct and distinctive, although some designs do cross over to carry on a design trend. For instance, the floral and frond designs reappear in several different styles of wedding invitation, presented in note cards and fold-over styles as well as in standard card styles. Borders and pattern prints are repeated in envelope liners and in dual-sided wedding invitations that are exclusive to the Vera Wang collection.

Vera Wang Letterpress Wedding Invitation Collection

This unique collection features bold, fashion-forward prints on oyster paper. The prints include floral and paisley in borders and repeats, and in single, splashy designs along the sides or peeking in from the top corner. You will find bright, pattern-on-pattern lace designs alongside delicate screen prints, delicate screen print floral patterns juxtaposed with bold sunbursts. The colors run the gamut from subtle jade green to bold and bright orange, sparking every piece of the wedding invitation ensemble in different, unexpected ways. A real favorite for the modern, unconventional but very elegant bride: the Vera Lace Letterpress Wedding Invitations which feature a delightfully stylized floral pattern against a delicate lace border and makes use of the unconventional and bold color combination of turquoise and jade.

Vera Wang Retro Verso Wedding Invitation Collection

This collection takes a skipping step to the whimsical side of your nature. The Retro Verso wedding invitation collection features bright, cheerful colors in prints that dance across the page. Each invitation is dual-printed with your invitation wording and a border design on one side and a bright pattern on the reverse of the paper. Retro Verso wedding invitations are unmistakably elegant, but have a playful unconventionality that’s appealing to the modern bride. A favorite wedding invitation style from the Retro Verso Dual Sided wedding invitation collection: the Parasol Dual Sided Wedding Invitation, which features sunshiny bright colors and a pattern reminiscent of your childhood Spirograph. It’s bold, flirty and definitely fun.

Bordered Wedding Invitations from the Vera Wang collection

This collection features bold colors and classic styling for the traditional bride with a strong unconventional streak. Colored borders in different styles frame the center panel on each invitation, but each of the borders has its own unmistakable character. Coupled with boldly patterned envelopes, the wedding invitations are both elegant and strikingly unique, a great deal like Vera Wang’s bridal dress designs. The two main designs in the Vera Wang Borders collection are the Bar Panel Border and the Hand Tinted Border wedding invitations. The Bar Panel borders are elegant and classy, featuring a triple frame in bold colors and an embossed double border around an Oyster white print panel. The invitations are coupled with very stylish envelopes with linings inspired by Wang’s own designs. The Hand Tinted borders are more subtle but no less striking, with borders hand tinted in bold, bright colors. There are no frilly details, just an elegant, classy and bold style statement.

Nearly all of the invitations in the Vera Wang collections include beautiful hand-lined envelopes to match the colors of the wedding invitation. The colored linings of the envelopes for the Retro Verso collection, for instance, echo design elements from the wedding invitations themselves, a sunburst parasol for the Parasol wedding invitation or a single gingko fan with the Ginkgo Retro Verso invitation. The Borders Collection invitations are coupled with envelopes lined in bold floral and geometric prints that coordinate with the double-colored borders.

The Vera Wang wedding invitation collections are bold, inspired by the textile prints and color palette from Vera Wang’s “Ready to Wear” collection. Unconventional and bold, these are wedding invitations designed for the discerning bride with an eye for fashion and style. If you are looking for wedding invitations that match your penchant for modern insouciance, the Wang wedding invitation collection is definitely worth a second look.

Wedding flowers are one of the biggest parts of any wedding budget, so saving money on them should be a top priority for any bride and groom. To save on money and to keep within your budget you should consider buying the flowers wholesale. Especially when the flowers are in season like spring it is a great time to purchase wholesale because of the stock of flowers. Remember to check your arrangement in a mirror with you holding it so you would picture how it would look like to someone else’s view. This is a new generation and silk wedding flowers are the rage.

White wedding dresses come in a wide variety of shades of white; you want to make sure that the flowers that you choose will coordinate with your wedding dress so you should match it with a swatch. Professional florist know accent the flowers just so, so they will attract attention to you in the way that you want. There is no shame in learning from the success and failures of others and doing so will generally save you a lot of grief. Your florist will help you with which flowers are seasonal if you are still unsure as to what to go for. Your local florist can recommend the many colorful options available. You are in for a pleasant surprise at your local florist. Florists can customize flowers to what ever you like, these fresh flowers with professional cutting them will make your bouquet outlast any store bought flowers.

The bouquets can be the same color as the bride’s bouquet or a different color. Bouquets can also be fashioned by keeping in mind the family tradition. Any good wedding florist should have at least a few sample bouquets they can show you. If no live bouquets are available, however, be sure to look through the photo book the florist has. Ensure that gift bouquets are ordered for the mothers. Problems arise because of last-minute flower substitutions due to weather or transportation issues, which may be more expensive. Women find themselves making last-minute decisions about changes to their arrangements, often without seeing what the revised bouquets will look like. Spring flowers make attractive centerpieces for tables and rooms. Bridal bouquets can be prepared with them.

The best way to evaluate how and where to allocate your wedding budget is to determine exactly what your priorities are. These days, 4 out of 5 couples pay for their own wedding and it helps to know how your budget should be broken down. It is with the budget that you can set realistic goals for your wedding and whether or not if your budget is realistic to your finances.

Since summer is the most popular time for weddings, it is very important to decide in advance the type of wedding flowers wanted by the bride. Since the florists are bound to be busy with many other weddings, the bride should be sure of her choices. Florists will also deliver all the flowers to your destination. Flowers in the center of the table always makes a good center piece, your guest will want to take these home and make your wedding day memorable. Most wedding florists will have a portfolio of photographs from past weddings, and they should be happy to share this portfolio of past work with potential customers. Most established florists are not one-man shows but a huge network of florists in different places.

Which day remains in our memory for as long as we live? What preceded each and every family life? Indeed, you will agree with me, in fact, everybody will agree – it is our own wedding day!

From as young as 12 years old I began to dream about my future family and my wedding day! I tried to get all possible information about wedding tips and ideas. My room was piled up with magazines and books on weddings in different countries, wedding traditions in different cultures and nations. Many years passed since that time. Till now this information helped not only me for my the most important day in my life, but to many of my friends and colleagues – for their wedding day. And today I would love to share my homework on weddings with you. Worth-trying wedding ideas from foreign cultures. Surely, it will make your own wedding very unique and really memorable. And here it follows… An example of unique combination of old and modern traditions we can find in Russian and Ukrainian weddings.

Customs of weddings in Russia

Nowadays, Russian weddings come in a variety of different forms. They can contain elements of a traditional Russian wedding and also hints of a European or American-style wedding. The latter have become more and more popular and modern in recent years. True Russian weddings are unique in the fact that they are always lavishly played out! We say “played out,” as a Russian wedding ceremony is usually conducted as though it were a theatre spectacle where there is a script and everyone knows their role.

In times gone by, a form of courtship would have taken place to secure the union of the happy couple. By tradition, the groom’s parents would ask the bride’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage for their son. Nowadays, this tradition has become practically extinct and only from time to time will the groom ask the bride’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage or request an approval of their union.

As part of the Russian wedding ceremony, people still enjoy the tradition of ransoming the bride. Before the young couple leave to go to the ZAGS (Registry Office), the groom must go to his future wife’s house where he will be greeted by friends of the bride, relatives and guests. They organise various fun games for the groom, like, for example, asking him challenging risque questions, persuading him to carry out certain tasks and demanding a ransom for the bride. The groom must fulfil all the tasks, namely, singing, dancing, reciting poetry, solving riddles and various other challenges. Then, as a ransom, he must give out sweets and money to all those who have arranged the obstacles along the way to him winning his bride (in other words, those who have set the groom challenges to prove that he is worthy of his bride.)

There is an age-old tradition that on the day before the wedding the bride will arrange a hen party and invite all her friends who will support and protect her in her new life. It is becoming an essential part of new traditions that the groom should organise a separate party for his male-friends; a tradition that has been imported from the West. The groom will say goodbye to his bachelor lifestyle whilst in the company of his friends.

After the registration in the ZAGS or the ceremony in the church, the newlyweds and all their guests go to the reception which is usually held in a restaurant, a banqueting hall or at someone’s house. By tradition, the young couple is met by the mother of the groom or all the parents who offer them bread and salt. The young couple must then take turns to eat the bread. The person who eats the largest piece of bread will be the head of the household. This equal opportunity ritual between the couple has only been observed recently as before it would have always been the male who would stand at the head of the household.

It is while everyone is sat around the table that all the guests will pass on their good wishes to the couple, raise toasts and offer presents. By tradition, two toddlers will be put in the centre of the room, one dressed in blue to symbolise a boy and the other dressed in pink to symbolise a girl. The guests will then offer sums of money to whichever toddler they choose. The toddler who receives the most money determines the sex of the married couple’s first child.

A fundamental component of the Russian wedding is the cries of “gor’ko” where the newlyweds must stand and kiss for as long as possible. All the guests stand round them and count “1, 2, 3… 15…. 20, etc.” The longer the young couple can kiss for, the stronger their union will be. The guests always demand that they kiss for as long as possible. Often, the reception can be a tiring experience for the young couple as they have to entertain their guests by this kissing ritual.

According to European tradition, the wedding ends with the bride throwing her bouquet over her head to all the unmarried girls in the crowd. Whoever catches it will become the next bride. After the ceremony has ended, the young couple goes off to their new house or hotel. At this point, the groom must take the bride in his arms and carry her across the threshold; a local custom that indicates the strength of their marriage. As a rule, the young couple then happily journey off into the sunset for their honeymoon.

Ukrainian Weddings

Given their common Slavic roots and culture, it is not surprising that Ukrainian weddings are very similar to Russian weddings. However, some variations do exist.

On the day of the wedding, the groom’s first duty is to pick up his bride from her house. Before he meets his loved one he is met by relatives and friends who will demand a ransom for the bride. This is the most special and exciting part of the whole affair. The groom must complete several tasks in order to demonstrate his strength and intellect. If he fails to complete a task, then he must give out money, sweets and drinks to the guests. The result of his efforts is the possession of his loved one. This tradition remains popular to this day. After the groom’s challenges, the young couple will go to the ZAGS (Registry Office) and then the church (if they so choose). A celebration of the events usually follows the registration of the marriage.

In today’s world, weddings in Ukraine can be compared with weddings in Europe, where the main ceremony is conducted in prestigious restaurants or big halls.

Despite the loss of some traditions, the guests still present the young couple with a karavai loaf. As a rule, the loaf is baked only by those women whose family life has been very successful as it is said to bring good luck to the young couple in their own family life. The newly-wed couple will free two white doves – usually in front of the building where their wedding proceedings take place.

One of the distinguishing parts of a Ukrainian wedding is that a giltse (a large wreath which is decorated with flowers and ribbons) is placed on the table next to the karavai loaf. This symbolises maidenly beauty and innocence.

On her head, the Ukrainian bride will wear a wreath with different coloured cascading ribbons. At the end of the festivities, the bride will throw the wreath into a crowd of unmarried girls. The person who catches the wreath will become the next bride. This tradition is very similar to the European tradition where the bride throws her bouquet into the crowd. It has been said that the European tradition of throwing a bouquet into the crowd came from the Ukrainian tradition of throwing wreathes, however, nowadays Ukrainian weddings usually conform to European traditions.

The host of the occasions will organise fun games, poems and little ditties. Guests usually give the couple useful, practical gifts, which will be helpful to the couple in their married life. Accepting the gifts is no easy matter. The bride and groom must show interest in every gift. They must unwrap the present, study it and then express their gratitude to the guest. The money usually goes to the groom, and other items and flowers go to the bride.

Without any doubt, some wedding traditions are intertwined and interrelated in all cultures. There is always room for improvement in preparation for the moment of your dream – wedding day. Do your own research, share ideas with others, send me your own wedding tips – it will assist us all. Our efforts can make a difference to make wedding ceremonies better, brighter, more exclusive and worthy to be proud of.

idal shoes is an important purchase, many would say just as important as the rest of the clothing purchases made for the big day. The first thing you will need to decide is when to buy the shoes – Before buying the dress or after buying the dress.

Some people will say that bridal shoes are essential and they need to be bought before buying the wedding gown.The question that needs to be answered is this: if you do not buy the shoes beforehand how will you be able to measure the length of the gown without your bridal shoes on?

Other people suggest that you need to match the color and perhaps the style of your shoes to your dress and therefore you need to buy the dress first. After all the dress is the more important purchase isn’t it? Most people will remember the dress, not to mention that it will be highlighted in the pictures, but how many people will remember the shoes?

If you do choose to match the shoes to the dress and not the other way around it should not be too difficult. White satin, which is what a lot of wedding shoes are made out of, is dyeable. Dyeable shoes can be dyed to match your dress perfectly.

Perhaps you will not even need to worry about dying the shoes as white wedding shoes are the most popular choice for brides today. Of course the reasoning is pretty obvious, most women opt for a white or off-white bridal gown and white shoes are the perfect complement to the gown

Now what kind of shoes do you need? Wedding shoes are far, trickier to shop for then other shoes. You need to remember that these will be worn for your wedding and reception as well as everything in between, including posing for pictures in places that may demand a level of comfort in your feet. Stilettos may not appropriate as you may become uncomfortable during the event. However, sandals may also have the same reasoning behind them, or perhaps they are not fancy enough for the occasion. Remember to consider your comfort level, how you want to look, and the type of wedding you are having (there is a difference between a beach wedding and a fairytale occasions with a ball gown and a wedding party of 24) and balance all of those variables to decide the shoe which is right for you.

When planning a wedding time is certainly a concern. There are so many things that need to get done in such a short period. If you are planning on shopping for shoes online, or even just window browsing, I recommend that you take the time to stop by a specialty shoe store to have your feet measured to be sure of your correct size. Hey while you are there you can buy some shoes! You can never have enough shoes and you should treat yourself often during the planning stage, a lot of work is involved.

Finally, as I touched upon before, your comfort level is very important during the wedding and reception. With this in mind be sure to buy comfortable wedding shoes. Not only will you be on your feet most of the time, remember that the gown can also be hard to manage at times. It is a good idea to break in the shoes (indoors only) for a few weeks before the wedding. When walking around your house wear them, walk like you normally do, walk up and down stairs and practice just standing in them. There will be a lot of standing.

Do not forget to have fun shopping. This is yet another part of your wedding day and many people save everything they can from that special occasion, including there shoes. I know I did, mine are in my closet, a daily reminder of a perfect day.

Of all the stuff you hardship to do, buy and arrange in preparation for your wedding, wedding stationery is something that must be intended early. After all, you hardship to let your guests know well in progress of your forthcoming big day. Your wedding invitation and accessories set the tone for your unique day safely establishing your style and liking. It is the first approved meaning about your wedding that a guest will sense from you, so make it unique. If wedding etiquette is important to you, then make a opening with your wedding stationery.

The Use of the Internet

The Internet has opened up new avenues for someone planning a wedding. All your study can plainly be done online and this also applies to verdict your stationery substance. There are hundreds of online stationery and wedding linked websites that spectacle all varietys of wedding invitations and accessories for you to desire from. nowadays many brides do their wedding study online as you can become hurriedly educated of the newest trends and new goods presented. You can each buy your wedding stationery promptly over the Internet, or assemble dreams and samples and take these to your native stationery store to realize. Most online food actually transmit you a sample in the forward to let you look and feel the stationery substance before you grasp them.

Custom Stationery

Every bride needs her wedding to be as unique as can be. A good place to opening is with custom wedding stationery. The great lead with custom stationery is that you can write your own wording, choose the variety, copy size and influence. No problem what theme you have set for your wedding, you will asclearlydly be able to convert your stationery to compliment the tone. Wedding invitations and accessories can be bought in diverse styles such as classic, contemporary, flower, marked, covered and pious.

On a finances?

If youre on a plan and looking for cheaper wedding stationery substance, then you might like to ponder lettering-at-home wedding invitations. recover money and impress your guests when you personalize and lettering your wedding invitations at home with free online services that are presented from some chief online stationery food. You pay for the paper and envelopes and then use their software to lettering promptly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools, you’ll be able to write your copy, jerk it, preview it, and lettering it. No mistakes, no hassles, no atrophied cards and its cheap!

take a Theme

The theme of your stationery should coincide with the largely theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a garden wedding then you may desire to have a flower lettering on your stationery substance. There are many accessory substance presented to help you tie your stationery in with the theme of your wedding. For example, flags, hearts, rings, sallow doves etc.. The same applies to the influence of your invitations. This is typically clearly leading by the influence of your bridesmaids dresses.

Stationery stuff

You would be stunned at how many wedding stationery substance there are. While your wedding invitation is the most prominent article of stationery, you can find complimentary stationery accessories to bout your wedding invitations:-

Wedding Invitations

Wedding Programs

Announcements

Engagement Announcements & Invitations

recover-the-Date Cards

trial feast Invitations

Bridal Shower Invitations

Wedding Accessories (menu cards, thank you remarks etc..)

Plan start

Your wedding invitation is the first approved meaning about your wedding and your guests hardship to know about their request in loads of time. Here is a curblist to help you plan early and be organised:-

twofold-curb that the wording in your invitation is remedy. Ask a comrade or family limb to also look through the invitation for you;

Order your invitations as presently as your date, time and place have been complete. Three to six months before the ceremony is what most authority planners indicate;

To reckon the number of invitations to order relimb to regard one invitation per free guest, pair and family;

After calculating the number of invitations add approximately 25 invitations to your order: 10-12 more for keepsakes, plus extras for the last-small guests. Also, depending on how large your order is, add 25 to 50 additional envelopes in project of mistakes in addressing;

Most established wedding planners accede that you should plan to packages your invitations six weeks before the wedding. This gives the quest loads of time to react;

Make clearly you have one completely assembled invitation weighed at the forward task to resolve the remedy forwardage.

Wedding invitations set the tone for your wedding and tell your guests what variety of style and theme you have special for your wedding.

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Dont underestimate the important of your wedding stationery. It sets the tone and style of your wedding and portrays the copy you want to set. Wedding stationery should tie in with the largely theme of your wedding. Invitations and announcements can be bought on a plan by with uniquety software to lettering from your PC.

Are you trying to decide between classic wedding invitations and a more modern style? These days, the lines have blurred, but there are still some distinct differences between the traditional classic style wedding invitations and modern wedding invitations. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide whether your wedding invitation tastes run to the traditional, or whether your wedding invitation choices are setting the tone for a thoroughly modern wedding.

Paper Choices

The classic wedding invitation is printed on heavy ecru or white paper. That paper is used for all parts of the classic wedding invitation with the exception of a tissue paper liner that is placed over the invitation itself.

Modern wedding invitations may be printed on any high-quality paper, and the colors vary widely. As late as the 1980s, even such simple and subtle color choices as a touch of gold leaf in the invitation border lifted an invitation from the traditional into the modern – and somehow irreverent – category. While traditional wedding invitations are still very popular, modern wedding invitations sparked with color and patterns are quite acceptable.

One very classic invitation style that still has a modern feel is the Pearl Border on Ecru Wedding Invitations from Rytex Weddings’ The Wedding Collection. The ecru card panel is bordered with a pearlized ecru border that is understated and elegant. Make it modern by choosing ink in the color of your choice.

The Inviting Company’s Wedding Collection also adds whimsy to a very traditional ecru panel wedding invitation. The collection of modern wedding invitations that nod to the past include the Chapel Vellum Panel wedding invitation, printed on a heavy white vellum panel and bordered in soft silver. The charming line drawing of a little chapel makes this wedding invitation simple, sweet and romantic.

Color Choices in Classic and Modern Wedding Invitations

Traditional classic wedding invitations are white or ecru, with touches of silver, pearl or gold on the borders or to accent embossed elements of the card. Despite the limited colors, there are still many choices of classic wedding invitations that will appeal to both the traditional and the modern bride.

While the most traditional wedding invitations feature no decoration other than the wording of the invitation itself, which is invariably engraved in black on ecru or white – many modern invitations capture the classic, traditional feel with embossed borders. To retain a truly classic feel, choose a wedding invitation that has even borders on all four sides with a wedding-inspired pattern.

You will also find many modern wedding invitations styles that have a very classic feel to them. One of the most innovative and unusual wedding invitations styles is a 5 x 7 V-Flap Folio Pocket wedding invitation. The clean lines and presentation are essentially classic, but the folio envelope and the wide range of colors pack a thoroughly modern punch. The modern bride can dare to be different without being cutesy, with mix and match color choices that include chocolate, turquoise, pink and apple green.

Embellishments in Modern Wedding Invitations

Traditional wedding invitations carried very few embellishments. The formal presentation of classic wedding invitations is part of their appeal and charm. Modern wedding invitations recognize very few limitations in decoration and embellishments. Designers like Vera Wang and Anna Griffin bring their unmistakable styles to wedding invitations, adding flourishes and bold, splashy prints to both the wedding invitation itself and to the other elements of the invitations package.

Anna Griffin’s line of Platinum Swirls wedding invitations invokes the classic and traditional with heavy ecru backing paper and slim, stylish silver borders. The use of white and silver is a clear nod to the traditional, and a platinum ribbon layered between the backing and the wording panel is the ultimate in modern elegance. This Anna Griffin design and others make it clear that modern and elegant are definitely not mutually exclusive.

The Vera Wang Wedding Invitation Collection features bold, modern graphics in striking styles and colors. There’s nothing shrinking violet about these stunning invitations. The Empress Jewel wedding invitation from the Vera Wang Letterpress line of wedding invitations is an example of Wang’s bold style. The horizontal orientation is a departure from the classic vertical card, and the colored top and bottom beaded borders are beautifully asymmetrical. Asymmetry is a mark of Wang’s modern wedding invitations, elegantly handled to create a striking border for the most important words of your life.

The Text

The wording on invitations is yet another place where the classic differs from the modern wedding invitation. Wedding etiquette decrees specific phrases and tenor for the wedding invitation, but many modern couples are eschewing the traditional to make their wedding invitations a statement of their personal feelings and beliefs.

The wording differs in another way between modern and classic wedding invitations. Tradition calls for black, raised engraving in a formal font. Modern invitations are much freer and more open. Most invitations today are thermal printed rather than engraved, and the thermal printing process produces the same raised lettering that engraving does. Modern invitations may also be printed in any color chosen by the wedding couple without raising eyebrows. The Mix ‘n’ Match Custom Wedding Invitation Collection allows couples to choose colors that mix, match, coordinate and contrast for bold, modern invitations that make a clear, memorable statement about your wedding.