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Some Interesting Wedding Practices and their Origins

Weddings represent some of the best moments in a person’s life and that of his family and friends. Various cultures hold wedding ceremonies filled with all sorts of traditions, some which are controversial. Increase in globalization has led to common adoption of certain mainstream practices which may still have some local touch. The following practices are now common in most weddings around the world, but have you ever wondered to think about their origins? You could be in for a surprise!

The Wedding Ring

Rings were valuable items often used in barter trade in the Middle East and Asia. They were made from precious metals such as Gold or Silver. Till today, rings are exchanged as dowry. However it was Pope Innocent III who popularized the wedding ring worn on the finger through a decree. There is some debate as to why it has to be worn on the third finger, but the popular belief is that it originated from an ancient Egyptian myth that this finger is directly connected to the heart.

Wedding banns or Marriage License

Although the announcement of wedding banns is losing popularity in favor of marriage licenses, they are still quite common in countries with strong Christian following. It is believed that there were introduced to prevent incestuous relationships. During this time anybody could make a claim on the wedding not going ahead because of a possible blood relation between the couple. The modern marriage license only restricts weddings on legal grounds.

The “Best Man”

Until the late 18th century it was common for the bride to be kidnapped from home before the wedding. The suitor/bridegroom often set out with a party of friends to conduct the kidnapping. The one who showed the most skill or bravery in the kidnap became the “best man” at the wedding.

The “White Wedding”

This practice is so common in modern weddings that many may overlook its origins. In fact this practice never existed until two hundred year ago. The bride simple used to appear on the wedding day wearing her best dress. It was Queen Victoria who commissioned a white laced dress for her wedding to Prince Albert.

The “Honey Moon”

In ancient Rome, newly married couples would retreat to seclusion for a period of one month. During this time family members will take turns to deliver “honey wine” which was thought to aid fertility.

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Bridal Dress Fashions

Planning and carrying out a wedding is tough. Invitations, guests, refreshments, the cake, and all the other members of your wedding party take up so much time, and if you’re like me, everything needs to be just so. If you ask any bride the hardest part about planning a wedding, they won’t say it will be picking the First Dance song, nor will they say it will be what flavor of cake to have. No, the hardest part for any bride is the biggest part of the whole shindig: the dress. Do you want one that’s short? Long? White? Colored? Sleeves? Sleeveless? It seems impossible, but we’re here to help!

Fashion changes so often, and every season brings new ideas, more creative designs, and fresh outlooks on clothing. Here, we’ve detailed the hottest, newest trends to come to bridal dresses this spring.

Off-the-Shoulder Necklines

Recently, bridal style has favored cap sleeves and one-shoulder dresses, but that will be replaced this year with the off-the-shoulder variety. Looking at the style, it’s no surprise. There is a princess-like quality to the style. Anyone else thinking of Beauty and the Beast? The off-the-shoulder design also gives the bride a greater range of movement, and it’s a perfect draw between sleeveless and straps.

Color

White dresses will forever be the first pick for brides, but this year, spring is coming in with new colors! Light blues, grays, and even mint greens are making their way into the wedding world. White and cream are beautiful, and the long-held belief that they represent the purity of the bride will never fall out of style, but we can’t deny that the little splash of color is just as refreshing as it is stunning.

Tulle

Move over silk and lace, because tulle is the new fabric that’s sweeping through the fashion world. Whether used as a beautiful, light-weight overlay or for a full and flowing skirt, tulle is going to be all the rage this spring. It’s the perfect accent material, and will add a brush of class to your wedding dress in a way that no other fabric will.

Capes

That’s right, ladies. Capes aren’t just for superheroes anymore, though who can deny that a bride is a superhero in her own right? Whether you want to mix it up this year, you want a little extra covering, some added lace, or you’re just going for the dramatic effect, a cape is the perfect addition to your wedding dress. It adds a certain flair, and a bold notion to your big day.

Collars

Necklines have steadily been rising over the past few seasons, and now they’ve been shifted into full-blown collars. This is an extremely regal and beautiful look, accentuating the neck and shoulders flawlessly – no matter what body type you have. With lacy sleeves, collars can bring out the design. With a sleeveless dress, a collar can give a little added support, plus bring attention to the elegant design. They are as versatile as they are lovely.

Sleek

Poof is going out, and the sleeker, slimmer version of wedding dresses from the 1920s and 1930s are coming back. History repeats itself, and that holds true for fashion as much as it does for everything else. These frame-hugging dresses are typically paired with smooth fabric or made to dazzle in the lights with jewels and sequins galore. Think flapper, only classier. Sexy, chic, and gorgeous.

Styles come and go. They fade in and out like the ocean’s tides, and sometimes it can be just as difficult to keep your footing in the ever-changing fashion world as it can be to keep your footing in the waves as they pull you back towards the sea. Thankfully, Best for Bride is always around to help you find the best dresses that keep up with the latest fashions. No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it there.

Be beautiful, brides.

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Paying for the Wedding – What to Expect

A wedding can be very expensive and there are many different areas to consider when planning a budget. The costs can be overwhelming when it comes to one or two people paying for the majority of the wedding fees, and for that reason certain traditions have been set up in regards to who is expected to pay for certain portions of the wedding.

Below, you will more about these traditions so that you will understand what is expected of each of the members of your family and wedding party. Knowing this information may help you to select certain members of your wedding party and will help everyone who is involved with the wedding determine the costs that are related to their specific responsibility.

The Rings

This is one of the lasting memories that comes with a marriage. While it is standard for the groom to purchase both the engagement ring and the wedding ring at once, the bride is typically expected to purchase the wedding ring for her husband later.

Gifts

It is also typical for the wedding party to receive small gifts when they become a member of a family member or friend’s wedding. Usually, the groom purchases gifts for the bride’s attendants and the bride purchases gifts for the groom’s. The bride and groom also normally purchase a gift for each other as well.

The Bride’s Family

Most of the expenses that are related to a wedding are paid by the bride’s family. Below is a list of some of the main items that are typically paid for by the family of the bride:

Invitations
Announcements
Attire for the Bride and the bride’s family
Flowers and decorations
Fee for the ceremony venue and reception
Food and Beverages
Photographer
Entertainment
Limo Rentals

The Groom’s Family

In order to make the cost of a wedding more affordable for everyone involved, the groom’s family usually takes care of quite a few important elements as well. Here are some of the items that can be expected of the family of the groom.

Tuxedos for the groom and his family
Flowers for the bridal bouquet
Boutonnieres for the grooms attendants and family
Corsages for the mothers
Rehearsal dinner

The Bride and Groom

There are also some items that are specifically taken care of by the bride and groom. For example, the groom usually handles all of the honeymoon arrangements. Many make the decision to make this a surprise for their bride.

The bride, on the other hand, usually pays for the accommodations for her attendants if the wedding requires hotel rooms. However, the attendants are expected to cover the costs for their travel arrangements and attire on their own.

Conclusion

The costs of a wedding can be very expensive, but with everyone working together, it is more manageable to arrange a suitable wedding for the happy couple. When planning a wedding, it is best to sit down with everyone involved and set up a budget before anything is chosen. This way, no one will receive any surprises when they are expected to pay for a certain portion of the wedding.

Best for Bride

Best for Bride can help keep your budget in place by offering you a wide range of wedding supplies that fit any budget. You will easily be able to find everything you need for your wedding in one of their four convenient locations.

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Hot Trend: Romantic, Poufy Wedding Dresses

Billowy skirts of organza ribbons and streams of satin are a hot trend this year. Some women shrink away from a high-volume skirt for fear it will make her look bigger. However, paired with a slimming bodice, the full, flowing skirt is romantic and flattering on many women. Poufy wedding dresses with sophisticated style are available for brides with a limited budget.

Full skirts are reminiscent of the classic ball gown style wedding dress. The bodice usually fits snugly. The flowing full skirt poufs out from the bottom of the bodice. This look is very traditional and romantic. The skirts may be made fuller with layers of organza or tulle.

Many modern wedding dresses that fit this trend have skirts with waves or ribbons of organza. Some designers adorn the skirt organza and satin flowers for added fullness and romantic flair. Multi-tiered organza is another traditional design for a full, flowing skirt. In the Sophia Tolli Spring 2015 collection, the Nightingale wedding dress is a beautiful ball gown style with a skirt made up of layers of tulle. The crystal hand-beaded lace is the perfect accent for this gown.

Several designers have increased the volume of their ball gown skirts. If you like the trendy fullness, but are not fond of layers of tulle, you may want to look for a classical dress with satin or taffeta skirts. Alfred Angelo has a design, number 758, with a flowing layer of white taffeta that is gathered to the skirt with pretty embellishments. The loose gathering of the outer layer creates added fullness with a style that is elegant and refined. The bodice is embroidered as is the front of the skirt. This dress has a semi-cathedral train which adds to that classical princess style.

Though full, flouncy skirts often are associated with ball gown style wedding dresses, the flowing full skirts of the trend are not limited to this classic style. For example, the ruffled skirt of the mermaid gown in the Mori Lee 2015 collection embraces the trend without being restricted to ball gown wedding dresses.

When choosing a bridal gown with a poufy skirt, avoid a dress that combines the large skirt with a large or loose-fitting bodice. If the bodice has loose layers of satin, poufy sleeves, or large satin flower embellishments, the added size of the bodice is likely to make the woman appear to be larger. A sleek, form-fitting bodice is a must for a billowy skirt.

Even if the bride is on a tight budget, many of these romantic, poufy wedding dresses can be found for under $2,000. The bride can complete the classic bride look with a wedding veil or headpiece. Remember to avoid added bulk to the top. If a woman is concerned about looking larger than she is, she may want to avoid a bulky veil and opt for something simple.