wedding rings

A wedding ring or wedding band consists of a metal ring. In certain countries it is worn on the base of the left ring finger. In other parts of the world, it is worn on the right ring finger (see Post-wedding customs below).

Such a ring symbolizes marriage: a spouse wears it to indicate a marital commitment to fidelity. The European custom of wearing such a ring has spread widely beyond Europe.

wedding rings

According to some customs, the wedding ring forms the last in a series of gifts, which also may include the engagement ring, traditionally given as a betrothal present. This tradition was quite possibly introduced by the Romans. Other more recent traditions, encouraged by the jewelry trade, seek to expand the idea of a series of ring-gifts with the pre-engagement ring, often given when serious courting begins, and the eternity ring, which symbolizes the renewal or ongoing nature of a lasting marriage, sometimes given after the birth of a first child; and a trilogy ring, usually displaying three brilliant-cut round diamonds each, in turn, representing the past, present and future of a relationship.

A European tradition encourages the engraving of the name of one's intended spouse and the date of one's intended marriage on the inside surface of wedding rings, thus strengthening the symbolism and sentimentality of the rings as they become family heirlooms.

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, the exchange of rings is not technically part of the wedding service, but rather are exchanged at the betrothal. It is always a two-ring ceremony. Traditionally, the groom's ring will be made of gold, and the bride's ring made of silver, and are blessed by the priest with holy water. The priest blesses the groom with the bride's ring, and places it on the ring finger of his left hand; he then blesses the bride with the groom's ring and places it on her finger. The rings are then exchanged three times either by the priest or by the best man. In Greece both rings are always identical, plain bands, usually gold but sometimes platinum, and the betrothed wear them on the 4th finger of the left hand until the wedding, after which they are worn on the right hand.

The Church of Greece has recently stopped performing betrothal blessings separately, as these were often non-committing, and a betrothal ceremony is the initial part of the wedding service anyway. In many families an informal blessing is now performed by the betrothed ones' parents in a family dinner that formalises the betrothal. While in modern times, the ceremony of betrothal is often performed immediately before the wedding (or "crowning" as it is more properly called), the actual symbolic act of marriage is not the exchange of rings, but the placing of crowns on the head of the bride and groom, and their partaking three times of the "common cup".

wedding rings

The custom that calls for the future bridegroom to give his future bride a jewelled ring upon proposing to her is also common among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, though this ring is not used again at the betrothal or wedding. Indeed it need not be a ring at all, but any piece or set of jewellery, such as a bracelet, brooch, earrings, necklace, tiara or, rarely, a whole parure.

wedding rings

wedding centerpieces

The Wedding Day is filled with the joy that goes along with all of the planning and, for many, the reception is not only a continuation of the ceremony theme, but is often a lavish affair that continues the theme in a stylish way. The Wedding Centerpieces can certainly add to that ambiance and, if you are not careful, can be a distraction to the Event.

wedding centerpieces

The centerpiece is one of the most important part of the reception event as it is an extension of the theme established by the bride and groom. To have a centerpiece on each of the tables that is beautiful but not distracting can be a challenge. With that in mind, lets look at some tips that could help you in the process of choosing that perfect piece.

Tip 1: Continue the theme. There is nothing more frustrating that seeing a bunch of centerpieces that look out of place as far as the wedding theme goes. If you have a color theme that is noticeable then carry it through to the table centerpieces.

Tip 2: Be aware of who is sitting at the tables. Be practical here. Most times the centerpieces are flowers, which are acceptable. But where most fall down is having centerpieces that overwhelm and many times are much taller than they need to be. If your guest have to strain to see who is across from them, it could be an annoyance.

Tip 3: Don't allow the centerpieces to be budget busters but don't let them look like an afterthought. A delicate balance here, no doubt, but you should not let a flower designer insist on making up elaborate centerpieces that end up breaking the bank.

Tip 4: Elegance and Style. It is better to have no centerpieces at all than have something just to have something. It lends itself to Tip 1, in that, you need to be aware of the theme but don't allow it look cheep.

Tip 5: Make the centerpieces part of the fun. Let them have an additional meaning by giving them away at the end in a fun way. The winner will cherish the centerpiece even more, especially if they win the honor of taking it home at the end of the festivities.

It's your Big Day and continuing the style and theme you set in every detail that you plan is especially important as you attempt to give your guest a fantastic experience and make them glad they came.

wedding centerpieces

sandals wedding

Strappy sandals are one of the most stylish and sexy accessories that a bride can choose for her wedding. Unlike a traditional white pump, they are young and sassy. Best of all, a great pair of strappy sandals is something that you can even wear again after the wedding.

sandals wedding

Young women love strappy sandals. When I managed a bridal shop, one of the biggest arguments that almost every bride had with her mother was over pantyhose. All of the moms believed that stockings were an absolute must on a formal occasion, but the brides all wanted to wear sandals. And as we all know, you should never, ever wear stockings with an open toe shoe. I say this even though my own mother, a staunch pantyhose supporter, does it on a regular basis! Oh well - I guess it's just a generational thing.

Within the general category of the strappy sandal, you will find infinite variations, which means that there is a perfect style out there for every bride. When you are looking for a sandal for your wedding, one of the first things you should check out is the shape of the toe bed. Some are rounded, some are square, and others come to more of a point. You want to choose a shoe that fits the shape of your foot. Otherwise, you end up with your pinky toe falling off the front of the shoe (square foot on pointy footbed) or a huge amount of shoe showing past your toes (pointy foot on a square toe bed).

sandals wedding

There are many choices of strap configuration, as well. If you have a slim foot, a skinny strap that goes across the toes looks very elegant. If your foot is wider, this can end up making your toes look pinched. A diagonal strap is often very flattering on many types of feet. Some of the prettiest ones are accented with beads or crystals sewn to the straps. Look for details on your shoes that coordinate with your other accessories, like your headpiece and wedding jewelry.

The closure of the sandals is another key part of the design. Some shoes are simply backless, as in a simple silk thong sandal. Ankle straps can offer a nice secure feeling on a strappy shoe. If they don't slip on your heel, the slingback is one of the most flattering designs. It elongates the look of your legs. The claps on wedding shoes are often highly decorative. Crystal buckles are especially popular, as they work so well with the Swarovski jewelry that so many brides wear for their wedding.

Comfort is key in any pair of wedding shoes, because you will be in them for such a long time. Look for a pair that has a well padded footbed. The higher the heel, the more cushioning you will need under the ball of your foot, as that bears all of your weight. Be wary of shoes with straps that chafe or bind. As you stand on your feet for the ceremony and then dance on them all night, they will tend to swell a little, so definitely avoid any shoe that feel snug in the store.

One thing that is really great about wearing strappy sandals for your wedding is that they are so little shoe that you can be very free in your choice. In other words, if you want to wear a light blue sandal for your something blue, feel free to do so. It will be a nice accent, without being too bold a statement. Other popular choices include silver and pink sandals. A white strappy sandal is also a style that you will have ample opportunity to wear with your summer dresses, so it is okay to splurge and get the shoes that you really love.

There is no doubt that a strappy sandal will add a great finishing touch to your wedding gown. Women just feel great in a cute strappy shoe, which makes them perfect for the day when you really want to feel your most fabulous. Just remember to get a fantastic pedicure!

sandals wedding