Wedding handkerchief
An old saying says that
tears cried before the wedding mean none after. A lace or silk handkerchief is
usually tucked into a bride's sleeve; handbag or somewhere in her dress. An
added touch is to embroider or monogram the handkerchief with the bride's
initials.
Wedding tiaras
Many brides want to be the center
of attention at their wedding with a fabulous dress, perfect makeup and hair,
and a shimmering tiara to top it all off. Most of the tiaras brides wear are
fake, but they still look beautiful and sparking. Other options to a tiara are
a garland of flowers, combs, clips or ribbon.
Wedding veils
The custom of wearing a veil was started by the Romans. The veil, which
represents the bride's modesty and virginity, was a way to disguise brides from
evil spirits and to ward off the evil eye of other suitors. Greek and Roman
brides wore flame colored veils to pay homage to Hymen, the god of marriage.
Lifting the veil is symbolic to leaving the father's household and officially
joining her husband's home. Veils were handmade of beautiful lace, and
therefore very expensive. Brides usually borrowed a veil from a family member
or friend because of its cost. There are a few different types of veils; the
most popular type is a blusher veil that just covers the face.
The
wedding garter
Throwing the bride's garter is one of the oldest
customs, dating back to ancient times, that is still a ritual today. In this
custom someone would witness the newlyweds consummating the marriage and bring
the garter back as "proof." This tradition was soon viewed as a violation of
privacy, so instead the groom would throw the garter out of the newlywed's
bedroom. Currently, the garter toss takes place at the reception. The groom
removes the garter and tosses it to all the unmarried male guests. The person
who catches it will receive some of the couple's good fortune and be the next
to marry. The garter belt was originally used to hold up stockings. These days
women only wear a garter for their wedding because garters have been replaced
by pantyhose. Garters are usually made with satin and trimmed with lace or
ribbon. The garter is usually blue and fills the "something blue" requirement
of the old wedding rhyme. Sometimes garters even have charms like a heart or
horseshoes.
Wedding shoes
Most brides wear silk or satin
shoes that are died to match their dress. Just make sure you can stand and
dance comfortably in them. Think about function more than form. Most people
will not see your shoes and it is vital to be able to walk in them all day. To
help you be comfortable all day, break your shoes in before the wedding. This
will help prevent bad blusters and foot pain! |
