If you’d like to add a slice of your heritage to your wedding ceremony, you’re not alone. Millions of couples are embracing their ancestry and choosing to incorporate some of the best traditions from around the world in their ceremonies here at home. Here are some of the most interesting wedding traditions you might find if you attended a wedding in France, Italy or Spain. If you or your family are from one of these countries, why not try adding some phrases from your ancestor’s native tongue in your wedding vows for a truly memorable touch!

France

On the day of the wedding, it is customary for the French groom to meet the bride at her home and accompany her to the church. He then is walked down the aisle by his mother during the ceremony. After the ceremony, the couple walks on laurel leaves that have been strewn on the ground by well wishers. Fragrant flowers are also carried by the
bride in the belief that the scent will repel evil spirits.

Traditionally, guests to the wedding will bring small cakes and pile them on a table as they enter the church. The bride and groom kiss over the cakes to symbolize a fruitful life. On the wedding night, these same guests will stand outside banging on pots and pans until the groom invites them in for drinks.

Italy

The bride in an Italian wedding wears a veil over her face in order to hide it from evil spirits until the ceremony is over. It’s considered good luck for the groom to tear it at the conclusion of the ceremony. Evil spirits are also warded off by the groom carrying a piece of iron in his pocket.

At the beginning of the wedding reception, the best man serves sweet liquor or strong drinks to the wedding guests, who then toast the wedding couple with the words “cent’anni,” which means “for a hundred years.” There may be as many as 14 different entrees at an Italian wedding dinner, each with its own wine selection.

To help defray the costs of the lavish ceremony and to assist in the couple’s new lives together, the bride often carries a satin bag. Guests place envelopes of money in the bag, and male guests may buy dances with the bride by contributing to this fund.

Spain

Before the wedding ceremony in Spain, the groom will present the bride with 13 coins in a little bag, which she then carries to the ceremony. These coins represent his commitment to her. At the ceremony, she will wear orange blossoms in her hair to signify virginity and purity. The church is also often decorated with orange blossoms.

In stark contrast to most wedding traditions, in Spain it is customary for the bride to wear a black silk dress at her wedding. Her veil is also black, and intricately embroidered. The groom wears an embroidered shirt made for him by his bride-to-be.

At the reception after the ceremony, guests traditionally present the newlyweds a gift for their household. There is also a traditional dance, called the “sequidillas manchegas,” which the guests enjoy.

Chris Simeral is the creator of The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, the wedding-coordinator-approved home-study course for couples personalizing or renewing their wedding vows. Sign up for the free wedding vow mini-course at http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com.

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Here is an excellent list covering all aspects of wedding planning:

1. The Alternative Wedding Book: Create a Beautiful Wedding that Reflects Your Values and Doesn’t Cost the Earth
2. Planning a Wedding to Remember
3. Far and Away Weddings: Secrets to Planning a Long-Distance Wedding (destination)
4. The Best Man’s Handbook: From Ring to Reception
5. Anti-Bride Guide: Tying the Knot Outside of the Box
6. The Portable Wedding Consultant: Invaluable Advice from the Industry’s Exoerts for Saving Your Time, Money and Sanity
7. Marry Like a Man: The Essential Guide for Grooms
8. Getting Married When it’s Not Your First Time
9. The Knot’s Compete Guide to Weddings in the Real World
10. Let’s Elope: The Definitive Guide to Eloping, Destination Weddings, and Other Creative Wedding Options

Detailed Wedding Planning Book Reviews

The slideshow below will tell you more about each book on our booklist! Click on the book of your choice in the slideshow to order the book discussed. HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING!!

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Traditions in Scotland Before the Wedding Ceremony:

Often before a Scottish bride is married, her mother holds an open house for a traditional “show of presents.” Invitations are sent to those who gave wedding gifts to the couple and the wedding gifts are unwrapped and set out for viewing. After the show of presents the bride-to-be is often dressed up and her friends escort her through her town, singing and banging pots and pans, heralding the bride’s wedding day. This tradition has evolved into the legendary ‘hen night’.

The groom, meanwhile, is taken out for a stag night on one of the evenings preceding the wedding. The Stag Night is meant to be a celebration of the last night of freedom, and a way of reassuring friends that being married doesn’t mean that they are shut out of your life. The groom, like the bride, is dressed up and taken around town by his friends and work mates. There is often a great deal of harmless practical joking, of which the poor groom is the main target. When the night winds down, the groom is sometimes stripped of his clothes and covered in soot, treacle and feathers and left overnight tied to a tree or post. In some rural areas an open lorry is hired and the groom is paraded through his local area with much noise and celebration.

Traditional Scottish Wedding Dress:

There is little doubt that traditional Scottish outfits add a touch of class and splendour to the wedding day and its associated ceremonies. The use of highland dress and the kilt, jacket, dirk and sporran in Scottish weddings has continued over the centuries. Whilst the bride’s white gown and veil has its roots in more modern times. A Scottish bride will usually wear a traditional white or cream wedding gown. The groom’s party and her father may come to the wedding resplendent in full Highland dress in the traditional clan tartan of their clans. She might wear a horseshoe on her arm for good luck, or a pageboy might deliver one to her as she arrives at the ceremony. Bridesmaids may wear whatever the bride has chosen to match her dress and it may include a little tartan accessory. Bouquets may include tartan ribbons or bows.

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Resort weddings are fast becoming a popular alternative to traditional city weddings. Among the many advantages associated with them, many couples cite the option of escaping the mad rush of the city and tying the knot in a beautifully serene location as one of the main reasons to plan a getaway wedding. Other benefits of destination nuptials are the ease of organizing the event in one central location and the multitude of activities on offer for the enjoyment of bride, groom, and their guests.

Just as you would research a holiday destination before buying your airline tickets, doing your homework before settling on a resort to host your wedding will ensure your big day is as memorable for your guests as it is for you and your partner. To help ease your planning we’ve compiled a list of some of the key details you might want to consider before you make your decision.

Hotels

Make sure the resort offers a few choices of hotels to suit the different budgets of your guests. Many hotels offer room rate discounts to wedding parties so be sure to shop around.

Activities

Find out what kinds of activities are on offer at the resort and what their costs are.

Spa Services

See if there is a beauty salon or spa at the resort and if they offer any special wedding packages for brides and the bridal party, such as discounts or “in-room” services.

Photography

Ask around for a few referrals for wedding photographers who service the resort. Contact the photographer well in advance to see if they’re available for your day and be sure to view their portfolio. If at all possible, set up a meeting with your prospective photographer before signing a contract. It’s important that you feel very comfortable with the person who will be taking pictures of you on one of the biggest days of your life!

Wedding Planning Services

Many resorts now offer wedding planning services. Hiring a wedding planner at a resort allows you to work with a professional who is familiar with the best local suppliers and also makes it easier for you to coordinate your wedding from afar.

Children & Pets

Many resorts now offer babysitting services, daycare, and kids day camps. These services can be a huge help to guests who are traveling with little ones. Check in advance that hotels allow pets.

Plan An Itinerary

If you have family or guests that will be staying overnight or for a few days a great idea is to plan an optional itinerary that includes different activities to keep your friends and family occupied and entertained.

Sun Peaks Resort is British Columbia’s second largest winter destination offering guests world class skiing, accommodations, dining, golfing, mountain biking and more…

www.Directoryforweddings.com – The local wedding directory with Free planning tools and resources for all your weddings needs. Featuring popular British Columbia wedding destinations. Enter to Win your dream honeymoon or destination wedding courtesy of UNIGLOBE Geo Travel and Transat Holidays. Visit us today at http://www.directoryforweddings.com

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

The abundance of the vines and scenic beauty of a vineyard’s manicured grounds may offer the perfect location for your wedding day.

The romantic beauty of the rolling hills and the naturally ripening fruit is simply a perfect location to realize a dream of a marriage.

The beauty of vineyards does not stay outdoors. Often regarded havens of all the fine arts, vineyards have transformed to cater to a variety of occasions including weddings inside and out. Vineyards’ tasting rooms and private rooms offer aesthetic and romantic appeal in their selection of furniture and fineries. Whether you choose an outdoor gazebo or an inside private room, a vineyard offers a wedding in style.

There are numerous ways to incorporate the wine theme into the details of your wedding, ranging for ceremonial grape crushing, a toast with your private reserve, personalized wine labels or wine-related wedding favors, such as wine glass charms, or wine-filled fondants. Even gifts for the maid of honor, best men and other members of the wedding party can follow the wine theme.

While set in a quietly romantic countryside, the wine country is really a first-class destination. Here you will find the country’s best resorts, haute cuisine, premium golf courses, luxurious spas, and other top services all within easy reach from your vineyard. As wine countries cater to the wedding market, they offer locational integration and other excellent, local service.

The most popular US wine destination has to be Napa Valley and Sonoma Country, adjacent to each other, both about 1-2 hours drive north of San Francisco. There is plenty to do before and after the wedding day. Besides wine tasting tours to sample the produce of 300+ wineries, there are wonderful hot springs and other premium spas to visit. There are horses to ride through wildflower meadows. There are glorious hot air balloons champagne tours to offer you an bird’s eye view of life below. And oh, there is so much more to do.

Each wine country and each vineyard displays its own mood and style. Selecting the right style is of course more important than locational convenience. Particularly when your vineyard wedding is a destination wedding, whereby you and your family has to travel from far to the wine country, you will have to consider which area best suits your wedding, in terms of accommodation and other services of choice as well.

To have an idyllic vineyard wedding, you certainly don’t need to visit popular Napa or Sonoma sites as many other wineries will aim to offer you that which is most important: a very memorable day.

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Allow for 1.5-2 hrs for this hair do at the hair dresser. And, you get to wear a tiara — whoohoo !

The demo is followed by an interview, which gives you tips for prepping your most glorious wedding hair.

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

“After the ceremony and the photo’s we arrived upstairs of the reception at about 5:15 pm ready for a 5:30pm entrance.

I used this time to have a drink, touch up my make-up, go to the toilet and made sure everyone was in order for the official arrival.

Since my husband is from New Zealand it was appropriate to have ‘Slice of Heaven’ as the song we all walk into.

I sent the junior bridesmaid together, then the bridesmaids and their partners followed by us.

The entrance was quite dramatic as we had to walk down these winding stairs to the reception room.

From 5:30 – 6:00pm we just had some soft background music while we caught our breath and had a rest.

We decided to do our speeches at 6:00pm at the start of the reception as we felt this was more appropriate getting the formalities out of the way so we could all relax.

My husband and my father were a bit nervous so this suited them better.

The order of speeches went:

- My husband – The Best Man – John’s Brother – My Father

We kept them short, sweet and straight to the point because there is nothing worse than 5 hour long speeches and people ranting and raving about nothing important.

Dinner was next and we love food so we opted to go for a full buffet.

After the wedding everyone we spoke to raved about the food.

Especially about how much seafood there was and the quality of it.

They also commented on the wide variety of dishes to suit everyone.

My husband had said all along the planning stage that he really wanted to have plenty of food and drink for everyone as this was very important to him.

We put AU $2500 on the bar and this lasted us the entire night and we even got about $400 back the next day of what we hadn’t used.

I was quite organised and I knew some of my husband’s friend might try to score some free drinks of shots or expensive spirits so here is what I did.

The bridal table could have whatever they wanted but there were no shots or cocktails and they could only buy one drink at a time.

All our guests were allowed as much wine, beer, soft drink as they liked. They had to pay for their own spirits.

I gave the bar staff a list of immediate family that could have what they wanted but again there was no shots or spirits and only one drink at a time.

On the night I was right about some people trying to get spirits for free and the bar staff stopped them in their tracks.

So if you want something like this make sure you give a detailed list of instructions for them.

After dinner we took the opportunity to go around to each table and say Hi to everyone and thank them for coming.

This took quite a bit of time but everyone was really appreciative that we took the time to do this.

The cake cutting was my favourite moment as we gathered everyone outside and when the knife hit the cake 3 mins worth of fireworks went off in the background.

We hadn’t told anyone of this plan and everyone’s mouth dropped open in awe.

Those 3 mins seemed like an eternity but the fireworks lit up the sky and made the cake cutting very special.

Straight after that we did out bridal waltz to “If I Aint Got You” by Alicia Keys & Usher.

All the dancing practice we had went out the window on the night as I totally drew a blank on what I should be doing so we pretty much winged it and the DJ invited our bridal party up half way through so that was good to get the spotlight of us…maybe we were looking silly trying to dance!

So from about 8:30 – 10:30pm we mingled, did a bit of dancing, saw some of the older relatives off as there were quite tired and took in how fast the day had gone.

Even my husband and I got about 15mins quite time outside to get some fresh air and I suggest doing this. It was really the first second alone we had had for the last 2 days.

Eventually at 10:30am we danced to the last song of the night and threw the bouquet from right at the top of the stairs we had made our entrance from.

We were absolutely exhausted. It was quite sad for me though because I had spent all this time and effort + money on this day and it had gone so quick.

It really is a magical day and at the end you just think wow. ”

About the Author

By Melissa Mazlin. Melissa Mazlin has planned her own dream wedding and helped numerous family members and close friends plan their own weddings with great success.
Visit her 100% free information website ‘A Real Life Wedding’ at: http://www.theentirelot.com/wedding/home.html

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

For many couples planning a wedding, the steps can seem like dj vu. Second weddings are almost as common as first unions. For this reason, proper rules of etiquette have been placed on second weddings. Of course, you should use your own judgement, and remember that many wedding rules are now seen as outdated. The reaction of your former spouse is only one tender area to consider when planning your wedding.

Before You Say “I Do”:

It’s important to consider the feelings of your former spouse when announcing your upcoming wedding. Have the courtesy to tell him or her in person, rather than risk the chance of your former spouse hearing the news as gossip. If you have a cordial relationship, tell your ex-spouse over coffee or dinner. If the relationship is less friendly, a formal phone call will suffice. You may have a friendly relationship with your former in-laws, and they should be offered the same sort of courtesy.

If the couple has children to consider, it is polite to inform them of their decision. Regardless of their children’s protests, this should not be omitted or done at the last minute. Children have a longer time to adjust and accept certain truths. One of them is the idea of having a new mom or dad.

Therefore, a second wedding etiquette stipulates that mom and dad to make their engagement known to the children first. If the relationship is good between the kids and the new stepparent, they would respect their parent’s wishes and support their union.

Finer Points Of The Wedding:

If you have already been married once before, the process of the second wedding will be easier to handle. You and your future spouse should remember that a second wedding is typically a smaller affair involving family and a few close friends. It is considered impolite to ask your former spouse to attend, but if you enjoy a friendly relationship you may feel free to do so.

It’s important to have an open discussion regarding the budget for your wedding. Expenses are usually shared, and questions about who will pay for what should be settled privately between you and your future spouse.

Many couples celebrating a second wedding choose to hold the event out of town. Often, older couples have more disposable income and are able to afford the luxury of celebrating the marriage in a foreign place. This isn’t always true of every guest, however. Consider whether your guests are able to pay for travel, accommodation, and related expenses.

Second Wedding Locations:

The most important rule of planning the location for your second wedding is to be sure it’s not a spot that holds emotional ties to any past unions. A second wedding is a particularly emotional time, and either partner can have unspoken uncertainties about past marriages. Working together, mutually choose a location and theme for both the ceremony and the reception. When you’ve agreed, you may then share the news with your friends and family.

It is courteous for the couple to provide transportation for members of their wedding party. Make sure that everyone has a ride, and determine how many cars must be rented. Taking care of these arrangements well before the wedding date can save stress and money.

Choosing Wedding Colors:

Regarding the color of the dress, it is acceptable for the bride to wear a white wedding gown. The groom and groomsmen may wear tuxedos. For a second wedding etiquette, you can still more or less follow the traditional color palette.

Reaffirming Your Vows:

Not all second weddings are about creating new families. The second wedding etiquette can be employed to celebrate a renewal of vows to each other. This is usually done to mark a marriage’s milestone like the 25th year or the 50th year anniversary.

This type of wedding is typically more private and intimate than the first wedding, and often more joyous. Reaffirming one’s love and dedication to a husband or wife is a beautiful and moving gesture. If your second wedding is a celebration of renewed vows, limit your guest list to your closest friends and family. Make the event as carefree and effortless as possible.

For Guests:

If you are invited to a second wedding, it is polite to bring a gift. While the use of a bridal registry is optional, every couple can use and appreciate thoughtful gifts. A gift of cash is always welcome, and second wedding etiquette dictates that the envelope is handed to a member of the family.

It’s not at all difficult to follow the rules of etiquette for a second wedding. As in a first marriage, the most important point is to be considerate of your partner’s feelings and wishes. As for the honeymoon, it should be sweeter than your first. The lessons that you learned in your first marriage should have made you stronger and wiser, so that you may enjoy a happy and successful second union.

Freelancer Garnett Foards is an essayist for a variety of web magazines, on family reunion and family picture themes.

Article Source: Article North directory

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Ours is a wonderful generation for many reasons, but most of all, it’s a generation of acceptance and the celebration of diversity. Today, more than ever before, people of all races and origins can share neighborhoods, workplaces, classrooms and homes without bias. We can freely share our ideas and learn more about other cultures. Ours is a more harmonious world and every day, we’re becoming increasingly tolerant of the cultural diversity that exists all around us.

Every couple involved in a romantic union will face challenges from time to time, but mixed race couples can encounter particularly challenging issues. Facing these challenges and finding solutions will ultimately enable the couple to make their relationship even stronger. The confidence to endure the strongest conflicts is made possible by sharing the personal strength found in each other.

An interracial relationship is the joining together of two people from different cultural backgrounds. If you are in an interracial or mixed-raced relationship, your background may very different from that of your partner. As the relationship flourishes, both you and your partner will be eager to share ideas and ideals, and involve each other in your unique cultural traditions.

You will be experiencing new traditions and meeting new people. This is where anxiety can develop and the potential for conflict can arise. It’s always exciting to meet your partner’s family for the first time, but when your knowledge of their language or lifestyle is limited, you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable, or concerned about whether they will accept you into the family.

The following suggestions can help you to be more confident when meeting people of diverse backgrounds:

1. Use clear and friendly communications. Try your best to communicate clearly, despite any language barrier. Your friendly tone and expressions will speak volumes. Express your happiness at meeting the people who raised your true love. Your efforts to communicate will solidify the bond between you and your partner.

2. Learn more about the other culture. Try to become more involved in your partner’s life by learning more about his or her culture and traditions. Show your interest but don’t appear to be phony or overbearing.

3. Focus on your similarities. In meeting and talking to new people, you’ll always find similarities, regardless of ethnicity or culture. Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to share your interests and opinions. You may find that you’re a lot more alike than you initially thought. The fact that you are ethnically or culturally different should not affect your ability to connect. You and your partner have already proven that different races can come together beautifully. It’s true that mixed race couples can face unique challenges, but it’s certainly no reason to give up too easily. It takes effort to make any relationship last.

4. Define the kind of relationship you want and need. If this union offers everything you need, then remind yourself that it’s worth maintaining. Be happy and true to yourself, and to your partner.

5. Remain confident in your decision to pursue an interracial relationship. When you fell in love, you felt invincible. Keep the feeling alive and your relationship will stay strong, despite anyone else’s opinions.

6. Don’t let other people’s opinions bring you down. Negative comments can be hard to deal with, especially when they come from people who are important to you. Remember that the happiness of you and your partner is all that matters.

7. Be happy. Starting a new relationship should be the happiest time of your lives. You are making plans and sharing dreams of what your future will hold. Do not let other people control your happiness.

8. Be content and live freely. This is the most important fact of life, even if you are not in a relationship at all. If you are involved in an interracial relationship, remember that you live in a free country and have the right to live your life as you choose. Making the decision to be with the person you love will give you all the power in the world.

9. Share your happiness with your friends and family. The people who love you will love your partner as well. If you feel as though you should hide your relationship, then you have bigger issues to deal with. Despite any cultural differences that may come in to play, the ultimate happiness of you and your partner should always be your number one concern.

10. Let your heart lead you. Don’t ruin your relationship by overanalyzing it. If you truly love your partner, then go ahead and love him or her freely and without doubt. We rarely get a second chance at love, so follow your heart.

11. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk to your partner about what makes your relationship strong, and about your fears. This will tell your partner that he or she is loved unconditionally and it will create a closer bond between you. Encourage your partner to open up and discuss his or her feelings with hesitation.

Love is the most wonderful gift that you can give or receive. If you have found someone truly special that you can share this magical emotion with, then don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way. Everyone is unique; it’s what makes this world such a wonderful place to be. Prove to yourself and your partner that you are truly and happily in love, and the rest of your world will be happy for you.

Essayist Flora Murkett writes for a variety of popular Internet magazines, on family life and home and family themes.

Article Source: Article North directory

Advice on Marriage, Brides, Diamonds and Weddings. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.