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This is part two in a series about different wedding traditions in various countries.

For good luck the Irish believe in the sun shining on the bride, to hear the cuckoo on the wedding morning, to see three magpies, and after the wedding ceremony it is important that a man, and not a woman, be the first to wish joy to the new bride. Some Irish people will wear a claddagh ring for a wedding ring. This ring was created by a master goldsmith. It symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship. When worn on the right hand, with the heart facing inward, means the wearers heart is unoccupied.. When the heart is facing outward, it means love is being considered. When worn on the left hand facing outward, it means the wearer is seriously committed to marry. At some Irish weddings, the groom is lifted in a chair (jaunting chair), to celebrate that he is a married man. For good luck, the newlyweds are given a horseshoe to display in their home, in the upward position. Read the rest of this entry »

Upon looking at wedding photos in different countries, it made me curious of the many different cultural traditions of each country. I hope you enjoy learning about them as much as I did. Read the rest of this entry »

The average engagement ring costs about $3,000-$4,000. The equals roughly 2-3 months salary for the regular Joe who is going to spend that much. Better start putting those pennies in your piggy bank.   Joel spent a little bit more than this on my ring. Read the rest of this entry »

 When it comes to Floral arrangements and Decoration for weddings there are numerous options available. Floral Decorating options are endless and are limited only by the imagination, even the most outrageous floral decorations can be made to fit practically any budget provided there is time spent to do proper research regarding the many ideas that Read the rest of this entry »

It must be great. You work on Saturday night for 5 hours and make $1,000 or more. What a life. It has been equated to selling drugs - the lucrative wedding disc jockey business is not what it’s cracked up to be. The reality is - this is far from the easy money that a potential wedding client thinks it is. They are shocked when they first hear the price that professional DJs charge and think that they are being ripped off because “wedding” Read the rest of this entry »

Now that you are engaged and you have completed the guest list, you need to start considering what colour themes that will be central to your wedding.

But, before you make a decision you must first consider your groom. Think about his colourings and consider which colours he would look good in. Then, think about your bridesmaids. Not all ages of bridesmaid will look their best in every colour and equally it Read the rest of this entry »

The distinctive traditions like Claddagh rings, superstitions, a special toast, as well as kilts and bagpipes make it really easy to distinguish an Irish wedding from the wedding celebrations of other countries. Let’s take a close look at some of these unique components in the Irish wedding.

One of the most unique of all is the Claddagh ring, a traditional Irish ring made to Read the rest of this entry »

Wedding planning truly is an art and that’s why many brides pay someone to organise every last detail, right down to writing the wedding invitations! Some brides even take a year off work to plan their big day! This is pretty extreme and not really necessary, but some brides feel they need this time to alleviate some of the pressure and stress. In fact, Read the rest of this entry »

By attending any wedding one can fascinate the overall position of the wedding. From the flowers and the candles to the dress and the music, the typical wedding can be as predictable and generic as your Uncle Leo’s dance moves. For your wedding to stand out, you need to involve your guests in the sentiment and process of the day. It’s not the cake or the great food that will be remembered, but all the little details that will make your wedding as unique and memorable for your guests as it will be for you. These 10 ideas on Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to wedding music, there are plenty of choices out there, but what in the world will you specifically choose?  It can be rather difficult to pin it down on your own, so there are a few things that you can do that will help you to make the right decisions about the wedding music that you need.  Here are a few tips that can help you to make the right Read the rest of this entry »

Well, the big day is approaching and there is so much to do.  Set the date, reserve the church, hire a band, get a dress, find a caterer, a photographer, a florist…the list goes on and on.  For many new brides planning a wedding can seem like an overwhelming task.  Don’t let it keep you from having the best day of your life, however, just follow my advice.

You are wondering how you will know what you need or where to find stuff.  Well, take a Read the rest of this entry »

Weddings require a lot of planning, even traditional weddings that are intended to include particular ceremonies. Here are a few tips you may find helpful when including any ceremonial practices into your special day.

Wedding Rings

A wedding ring is a symbol of wholeness, unity, and eternity. Some couples choose a double ring ceremony or a single ring ceremony, regardless there is usually some type of Read the rest of this entry »

Quite a few newlyweds choose to get matching wedding bands for their big wedding day. The history of the bride and groom wearing matching wedding bands dates back many years and is still very much alive and well today.

Many couples prefer to design their own matching wedding bands. They may consult with a jewelry design professional who will take their vision and use it to create two rings that Read the rest of this entry »

Renting a good tent is important when planning an outdoor wedding. While tents provide a cozy and personal touch to the whole outdoor wedding décor, they also shield you and your guests from unfavorable weather conditions. Tents are also more flexible than existing facilities because you have more options regarding where and how you want to have your wedding. However, they are more expensive and can cost you around $3,000 to $6,000 without the extras such as lighting, flooring, and the cost of delivery, setup, and removal. Read the rest of this entry »

From the time we are old enough to talk, we are surrounded by weddings. We all grow up imagining our partners and wedding attire, hoping that it will be the perfect event. However, what many of us don’t realize is that it takes months of planning and perfection. After all, there are many other details to worry about, other than wedding dresses and catering. With thousands of options to choose from, it can be extremely difficult to create the perfect wedding. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the Washington Post (July 2, 2006) “While clergy still perform most weddings, the ceremonies are straying ever farther from tradition, reflecting a “do-it-yourself” attitude toward religious nuptials”

How true, how true. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past decade or so, unity candles have become a very popular part of traditional wedding ceremonies, and plenty of friends these days approach me to supply them with these candles when their children get married. I used them myself for my eldest daughter’s wedding last year, though my 69-year-old mother rather sniffily said that these new fangled ideas had no business to be in church! Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it – the world just isn’t as big as it used to be. As a testament to the earth’s seemingly shrinking waistline, more and more young men and women are finding true love outside their faith – and making it work. Yet no matter how progressive you and your families may be, the peaceful merging of two religions can prove an ambitious undertaking. Take a deep breath, remind yourself that love is the end goal, and get ready to celebrate a marriage made in heaven, er, make that two heavens. Read the rest of this entry »

The limousine, also called the limo, has come to be associated with luxury, glamour and style. It is used by the government to transport the highest officials of the country. It is used by celebrities riding to red carpet events. It is used by millionaires, business tycoons, rock stars. If you’re important, you arrive in a limousine—and before you’ve even stepped out of the car, you’ve already made a grand entrance. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it, not many of us have the kind of skills or experience to write truly poetic wedding vows. Or do we? Here’s the truth: Even if you don’t know Dylan Thomas from Bob Dylan, and you’re pretty sure T.S. Elliot was that guy who wrote the words to Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Cats,” all is not lost! In fact, there are ways to learn to write the words you want. With four simple steps, you can take what you feel in your heart and make it come out as sweetly as any Shakespearian sonnet. Read the rest of this entry »

Did your wonderful husband-to-be recently “pop the question” and now you are wondering what on earth you have gotten yourself into with trying to plan a wedding? Don’t panic! I was there once and I remember the first few weeks of having no idea what to do or where to start. Our wedding date was only five months away and I was completely clueless as to what type of ceremony I wanted, what colors I liked, who would officiate, where the wedding would take place, and on and on the endless unknowns went. There seemed to be an enormous amount of details to figure out, and time was running out. Read the rest of this entry »

My theory is that there is no such thing as an ugly bride and this has held true for me over the past seven years and several hundred weddings. As a wedding officiant I see brides in all shapes, sizes, ages and ethnic origin. I see women who have irregular facial features, bad teeth, unruly hair, big noses, eyes too close together or too far apart – whatever you want to describe as less than beautiful. I have seen short brides and tall brides, brides who were too fat or too thin or who thought they were too fat or too thin. I have seen pregnant brides, old brides and very young brides. All were beautiful. Read the rest of this entry »

The search for the perfect wedding song has always been one of the difficult tasks for Christian married couples. As an occasion full of love, liveliness and promises, good wedding songs not only set the mood of the crowd, but also describe the couple’s feelings and emotions for that moment and expectations from their life to come. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey – it’s all about you; take back your ceremony!

It is a ritual – time honored and sacred – but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other…yawn. Of course, some couples choose to be extremely original and opt for exchanging vows on a roller coaster, while bungee jumping or even dressed as trekies. I say – good for them for such uninhibited displays of originality. But even if you prefer a more traditional and “scream-free” wedding ceremony, you can still find creative ways to infuse your ceremony with elements that are distinctly you. Browse my favorite ceremony ideas: Read the rest of this entry »

“We’d like our dog to be the ring bearer,” she said and he nodded. “You want your dog to be the ring bearer?” I echoed in a wobbly voice. “Yes,” she said with a perfectly straight face.  “It is because of the dog that we are together and we want him to be in the ceremony.” Inside my head I was hearing a voice screaming, “No. No. Not a dog in a wedding! No, that just won’t work.” But my mouth said calmly, “What kind of dog is it?” The groom responded calmly, “A Rottweiler.” (My life flashed before me along with the image of this big Rottweiler’s mouth around my throat as I tried to pronounce them husband and wife.) Read the rest of this entry »

You’re getting married, right? Congratulations! And, you want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you’ve always dreamed. But, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures. Bummer. So, how do you choose the right photographer? Read the rest of this entry »

You’re planning your dream wedding and instead of a traditional church wedding, you and your fiancé have decided on a beautiful plantation for your ceremony. You can’t believe your luck! The date you selected was open and the caterer, the photographer, the videographer, the florist, your favorite band and everyone in your wedding party was available for your special day.  Everything was planned to the last detail. It is a month or so before the wedding and everything is in place. The day is almost upon you and all you have left is to get that marriage license. With great anticipation you walk into the Clerk of Courts Office to acquire your license and you suddenly realize that you haven’t contracted anyone to perform your ceremony! Read the rest of this entry »

Traditionally (don’t you sometimes resent that word?) the groom appears in a tuxedo with a cummerbund and perhaps a bowtie and vest that matches the brides colors or the theme of the wedding. And, yes, it is elegant. A man who lives in Levis or in shorts and T shirts is completely transformed in appearance when he puts on a tux and people are wandering around looking for the groom because they don’t recognize him. Even if you’re used to seeing him in suits, there’s something exceptional about the way he looks in a tuxedo. We have to admit that a man in a tux looks awesome. Read the rest of this entry »

Most wedding officiants have probably been asked if they could officiate a wedding that was only a few days or a week or two away. With our troops being shipped out to Iraq with little advance notice this is not too infrequent. Is it possible to give them a spectacular ceremony with such short notice?
 
Of course it is. Read the rest of this entry »

They rented the whole country club, had 200 people for a reception and dinner, open bar, and all the trimmings. A string quartet played prior to, during and after the wedding and a D.J. kept them dancing until 3 a.m.  The bride’s dress cost over $3,000 and who knows what the flowers cost. They balked at my $300 fee even though I had a one hour drive to and from the wedding. “They had to save money somewhere” the father of bride said. And the father of the bride moaned over and over, “This wedding is sending me into bankruptcy.” The sad thing is, maybe it was doing just that. The mother of the bride was just concerned that it be the biggest wedding of the season. Read the rest of this entry »

Often, in spite of the best planning and great organization, things get wild that last week before the wedding and things get misplaced or forgotten.   As the officiant I have had couples forget the rings, the marriage license and the candles for the unity candle ceremony. At one Saturday evening rehearsal I reminded the couple to be sure to bring their marriage license to the wedding the following day and they looked at each other and at me with stunned expressions. They had delayed getting the license and then forgot about it completely despite numerous reminders from me. They got caught up in the excitement of family and friends arriving and forgot some of the critical details. Read the rest of this entry »

It was a surprise to me when I started officiating at weddings that the photographer would ask me what my rules are.  “What kinds of rules does he mean,” I wondered. I still wonder. 

It is important to me that the bride and groom get the pictures they want of their wedding ceremony. Sometimes that means the photographer may need to stand in the aisle as the groom escorts his mother to her seat or as the bride comes in. He may have to go through some kind of contortions to capture the flower girls and ring bearers in  their finest moment. He may momentarily block someone’s vies or have to come up close to me or the couple. It may mean the photographer is moving around throughout the ceremony.  Read the rest of this entry »

Children are wonderful in weddings and often are the “scene stealers.” Generally serving as ring bearers and flower girls, they will do exactly what they want to and the will be –yes, absolutely — they will be children. Some make it down the aisle and some do not. Some walk, some run, some dance. Some make faces at the guests, some cry, some refuse to go down the aisle and some need to hold mom’s hand for courage. Regardless of what they do, they are wonderful and will almost always lend a little comic relief to the otherwise solemn ceremony. 

A WORD OF CAUTION HERE:

Read the rest of this entry »

There was a time when the officiant was given a love offering only. There was no charged fee because he was a part of a church that supported him. But things have changed, especially in relation to non-denominational weddings that are held in venues other than a church or chapel.

It is almost 100% true that a non-denominational minister performs weddings for the love of doing it. However, many rely on the wedding fees to supplement their income because they still have to pay their bills and put food on the table.

So what do officiants charge and what does the fee cover? Read the rest of this entry »

It is important that, if at all possible, you set up a meeting with several officiants before you make your choice.  It sometimes does happen that you find a perfect match on the phone or at the meeting with the first officiant you contact. If that happens, that’s wonderful. If you aren’t sure, then interview others.  Remember - your officiant can make your ceremony either a beautiful, meaningful joyful experience or something quite the opposite.

The officiant will generally take the lead during the meeting. Some things she/he may ask are: Read the rest of this entry »

Many couples these days are having weddings in venues other than a church. If you do not know a minister, the internet is a starting place. Do a search for wedding officiants or wedding ministers in your area. You will most likely find several sources with a variety of names. After reading the information about a number of officiants, call several and do a phone interview prior to scheduling a meeting. Ask yourself these questions: Read the rest of this entry »