GARTERS AND COINS AND PARTIES

Wedding
Notations

GARTERS & COINS & PARTIES

As you review the many wedding traditions you may wish to incorporate into your wedding ceremony, it can be fun to know their history.

The Lucky Sixpence-- Brides are urged to slip a sixpence (or dime) into the sole of their left shoe. Tradition has it that the gesture would appease Diana, the goddess of chastity and unmarried women, and the bride would lose her virginity and bear children. In other cultures, the coin has become a symbol of prosperity for the young couple.

The Bridal Garter-- The tradition of wearing a garter and then allowing it to be tossed to the single men at the reception dates back to the 14th century. It mimics the tradition of heraldic love in which ladies of the court gave a token of their support-- a scarf or ribbon-- to knights going into combat. The Order of the Garter was formed in England at that time and admission to the Order was an honor given to noblemen who then wore the garter to indicate their distinguished service to royals. Today, the garter is worn throughout the ceremony, and later is presented to the groom as a symbol of the bride's support. Today, this tradition of "tossing of the garter'" to the single men at the party is part of the Order of the Garter recognizing the service of the single men to the groom, and a sign that the guest who catches it ill be the next to marry.

The Bachelor Party-- Despite its occasional dip into excess today, the bachelor party does have its roots in history. In fact, it may date back to the grooms of Sparta. The groom would invite his close friends to supper on the eve of his wedding to celebrate and to reminisce about his past. It became an "event of mourning" for the passing of his bachelor status. Today's parties are usually just that-- an occasion for celebration, One hopes that they are done in good taste.

Please stop in to see our experienced consultants for more ideas to link the past to your very current plans.

A Gift to you from:

BRIDAL ELEGANCE, ILLINOIS' LARGEST BRIDAL AND PROM STORE.

Now at two locations:

205 W. Etna Road, Ottawa, Il. 61350 Phone: 815.433.3050

1329 E. Empire Street, Bloomington, IL. 61701 Phone: 309.662.8200

www.BridalElegance.us.com

CEREMONY LOCATIONS- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES

Wedding
Notations

CEREMONY LOCATIONS- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES

You are engaged!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've thought of a date. Now you begin coordinating that date with your search for the perfect venue to celebrate your wedding ceremony. Before you settle on a place, take time to insure that you have your priorities in line. While this is the occasion for the biggest party you may ever give, that should not be the prime target.

Your wedding ceremony is symbolic of a huge decision and commitment that you and your husband-to-be have made to each other. Where you will be married needs to be your first critical decision. If you are both of the same faith and attend a church or synagogue on a regular basis, your decision is easy. If you are living in a different area and away from your family's church, you will need to look for potential locations. Many churches and synagogues will only marry "parishioners'. So if a religious location is important to you both, make that site search a top priority. If you choose a non-religious loction for your wedding ceremony, there are several interesting options to consider. Most cities have wonderful old homes that have been turned into public ceremony sites. Public gathering spaces in historical buildings, museums and art galleries have all been used for memorable ceremonies. Whether you choose to be married at home, in your yard, at the beach or in the mountains, you can create a beautiful setting for this important day.

For more ideas on ceremony sites and decor ideas, stop in and talk with one of our experienced consultants or with our Gift and Bridal Registry Division, MY FAVORITE THINGS.

A Gift from:

BRIDAL ELEGANCE, ILLINOIS' LARGEST BRIDAL AND PROM STORE!

Now at 2 Locations to better serve you:

205 W. Etna Road, Ottawa, Illinois 61350 Phone: 815.433.3050

1329 E. Empire Street, Bloomington, IL. 61701 Phone: 309.662.8200

www.BridalElegance.us.com

CEREMONY IDEAS FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY

WEDDING
Notations

CEREMONY IDEAS FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY

Once you have secured the site for your ceremony and have met with the officiant and/or his or her representative, you should have a good idea about the ceremony requirements and guidelines. Working within those guidelines, you should be able to add your own personal touches with the goal of creating a beautiful setting that helps to create the mood for your ceremony to come. As guests arrive, the setting- candles, lights, flowers and music can create an impressive atmosphere. Instruct ushers to make friendly small talk with guests as they arrive and as they are escorted to their seats. This will help to put guests at ease. If yours is a small wedding, ushers can present a single flower to female guests along with a note from you welcoming them to the wedding. This welcome flower can also be presented with the programs. Consider having ceremony hosts greet guests at the entrance doors. Choose one from each family who is likely to recognize many of the guests as they arrive. Choose host couples to welcome your guests. Your parents may be mingling with guests at this point or may be needed with the wedding party. Guest hosts can welcome people in their name. If you have music playing as guests arrive and are seated, change that music-- tempo or volume or both, so that special music plays as the parents of the bride and groom are seated.

More and more couples are choosing to have a card or note from them along with a single flower or small wrapped gift waiting in the pews for the parents as they are seated. Consider having a special song played as the groom and his best man take their places.

As the processional begins, the music should change again for bridesmaids and flower girls. Some weddings have bridesmaids scatter rose petals as they come down the aisle--instead of, or in addition to, those dropped by the flower girl.

Consider making an entrance-- cued by more dramatic "announcement" music.
If your Church or facility can manage it, dim the house lights and turn on pre-placed lighting aimed at the aisle just before the bride begins her walk to the altar-- either with her escorts or alone.

REMEMBER THE CEREMONY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE DAY.

A Gift from:
Bridal Elegance- Illinois' Largest Bridal and Prom Store
now at 2 locations:

205 West Etna Road, Ottawa, Il. 61350 Phone: 815.433.3050

1329 E. Empire Street, Bloomington, Il. 61701 Phone: 309.662.8200

http://www.bridalelegance.us.com

What's New for Weddings?

Wedding
Notations

What’s New for Weddings?

While traditional wedding touches remain an important part of every bride’s planning, many choices are more contemporary and reflect a couple’s desire to make their ceremony and celebration as unique as they are. Here are some of the trends we are seeing for this year. Weddings today are both mixing and matching. An invitation may combine ribbons of paisley and stripes while bridesmaids can often be seen in similar colors but different styles. Reception seating may include round tables mixed with square or oblong ones. Centerpieces may be a combination of both tall and low arrangements. Unconventional colors are in. Brown is a big color now, paired with creamy shades of white or ivory or pastels in pink or blue. Imagine a cake iced in chocolate fondant with ivory and pink sugar blossoms. Fruit is frequently used when decorating for weddings. Pineapples, a symbol of hospitality, are being used in many destination weddings. Pears- the perfect “pair”- make an obvious choice for cake toppers. Bowls of cherries add color to table settings and marzipan fruits elegantly packaged in glassine bags make wonderful guest gifts. Stop in and talk with us about other new ideas to help make your wedding unique.


From BRIDAL ELEGANCE-now at 2 locations
ILLINOIS’ LARGEST BRIDAL SALON
205 WEST ETNA ROAD
OTTAWA, IL. 61350
815.433.3050 &

1329 E. Empire Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309.662.8200

www.BridalElegance.us.com

Wedding
Notations

Celebrations!!

We believe that choosing your patterns of china, silver and crystal represents a celebration of life. The wedding day may bring a storybook ending to a romantic courtship, but all the days that follow it is more important as you share and enjoy life together. In addition to your regular place settings, we suggest that you add things to use for entertaining. Gold chargers and gold etched glasses, rich hues in linens and accessories with gold accents can add up to exotic entertaining. Using an eclectic mix of glasses, flatware and plates in different patterns, shapes, colors and styles can provide a jolt of the unusual to casual settings. You can pick up food from the deli if you have no time to cook, but remember that presentation is important. Let playful place setting help you. Our Bridal Registry experts can help you create tabletop looks that celebrate your lives.

A Gift to you from:
BRIDAL ELEGANCE’S
BRIDALREGISTRY/GIFTDIVISION,
MY FAVORITE THINGS
205 W. ETNA ROAD
OTTAWA, IL. 61350
815.433.6364


www.BridalElegance.us.com

Wedding
Notations


SPECIAL TOUCHES FOR YOUR WEDDING




We believe that special touches help to make a beautiful wedding. Here are a few examples:

o Address the wedding invitation envelopes in the color of ink used on the invitation.
o Place satin bows on every pew for a very festive touch. Flowers can be added to the
bows for reserved rows.
o Add a color, favor, reading or music, which reflects the ethnic cultures of those involved.
o Food should reflect the lifestyle preferences of the couple and be in keeping with the theme
and/or degree of formality of the wedding.
o Special monogrammed toasting goblets make a statement and can be used to recreate
memories in years to come.
o Honoring deceased parents can be tastefully done by dedicating a song to their memory in
the program, or by placing a flower where the person (s) would have been seated.


BRIDAL ELEGANCE, Illinois’ Largest Bridal Salon- Now at 2 Locations
205 West Etna Road
Ottawa, Il. 61350
815.433.3050 &

1329 E. Empire Street
Bloomington, Il. 61701
309.662.8200

www.BridalElegance.us.com

Wedding
Notations


TO TOSS OR NOT


We know that it has long been a tradition for the bride to toss her bouquet and allow her garter to be removed by the groom and tossed to his bachelor friends- even auctioned off. These traditions came from our English cousins, where long ago spectators at the wedding would try to tear off the bride’s clothing believing it allowed them to share in the couple’s happiness. While the bride was fleeing her attackers, she would toss her flowers to the onlookers to placate them. Tradition now says that those catching the bouquet and garter will be the next to marry. But that tradition is changing. Today’s bride often opts to present her bouquet to her grandparents or to the couple in attendance that has been married the longest. She may also object to having her leg exposed, garter removed and tossed to a group. A newer version of the old tradition is to have a special smaller tossing bouquet prepared by the florist as well as having a less expensive garter ready to toss. A new tradition begun in some areas is to have attendants sign the bottom of the shoes of the bride and groom. The last names to be erased after a night of dancing will be the next to marry.

It’s fun to think of ideas of how to make traditions your own.



A gift to you from:
BRIDAL ELEGANCE- Now at 2 locations
205 W. Etna Road
Ottawa, Il. 61350
815.433.3050 &

1329 E. Empire Street
Bloomington, Il. 61701
309.662.8200


www.BridalElegance.us.com