Are you planning a wedding? Have you thought about the traditional wedding toast?

The wedding toast has taken an entirely different meaning today than in the past. Today, during a wedding reception, someone offers up a congratulatory "toast" to the bride and groom.

Did you know?

The name "toast," actually came from one of our favorite breakfast meals! In the past, the French put toast in their wine to catch the sediment from their wine, or they used spice toast in their drink to make it taste better.

Two Glasses Clinking

Another tradition included clinking the glasses together. This would show all that the drinks were not poisoned. The host, usually the bride's father, would raise his glass and drink first, showing that the drink was good and not poisoned.

During the Middle Ages, many of the nobility were wanted dead.  What better way than to poison them then at a wedding celebration? People during this time did not always marry out of love, but out of duty and to bring clans together to fight other clans.

Throughout the ages, superstitious people would raise up a glass and clink them together during weddings to ward off evil spirits.  It was thought that the bell sound that glasses make when clinked would ward off any evil spirit that might stop the couple from having a great wedding night.

Wedding Toasts Today

In modern times, a toast isn't a cooked piece of bread, but rather about honoring someone.  Today, the father of  the bride is usually the first to offer a toast.  However, the best man and maid of honor often will toast the couple as well.  A new tradition that should become standard is for the bride and groom to offer a toast to their guests.  This is a way for the bride and groom to say thank you for participating in their special day.

Their are two popular pieces that brides have used to walk down the aisle to, the Wedding March and the Bridal Chorus.

In 1842 Felix Mendelssohn wrote the Wedding March.  He was commissioned by Frederick William IV Prussia to write orchestrated pieces for the play A Mid-summers Night's Dream, written by William Shakespeare.

The Wedding March was made popular when Victoria, The Royal Princess, wed Prince Frederick William of Prussia. For more than 150 years the Wedding March has been used in western weddings.

The Bridal Chorus just like the Bridal March was written for a play.  Robert Wagner, a German composer, wrote the music to accompany his play entitled, Lohengrin. The Bridal Chorus was written in 1850 and is commonly know as Here Comes the Bride.

Brides may choose to incorporate both pieces into their wedding using the Bridal Chorus as the bride walk down the aisle, and Wedding March as the recessional tune as she and her new husband walk down the aisle as husband and wife.

Both pieces are lovely and work well with both tradtional and non-traditional weddings.

When a boyfriend gets down on one knee, cracks open the case, and asks "Will you marry me?" odds are, we're not wondering how engagement rings came to be. Why a diamond? Why the left finger? The tradition of engagement and wedding rings is a long, rich story full of many cultures symbolizing love in their own way. Their stories are what makes men get down on one knee and women to offer their left hand.

History of Wedding Rings

Egyptians wove reeds and papyrus into rings and bracelets.  The woven rings were given as tokens of love and symbols of marriage. A ring, like love and marriage, has no beginning and no end. Because a ring represents a circle of eternity, many cultures used rings symbolically.

After conquering Eygpt in 332b.c., the Greeks adopted the ring as a symbol of  love.  The wearing of a love ring on the third finger came from the idea that the third finger on the left hand leads directly to the heart. The Romans referred to the  ring finger as vena amoris. {In Latin it means the vein of love}.

As cultures started to put increased importance on rings, they soon started making them from metal elements.  Iron was most likely the first metal one would wear on their vena amoris.  Gradually, rings would be fashioned from silver or gold. Eventually jewelers would incorporate semi-precious stones in to the rings.

Engagement Rings

I am certain most of us remember Princess Diana's stunning engagement ring.  It was a beautiful sapphire with small diamonds surrounding the 18 carrat stone.  A diamond is by far the most popular engagement ring. However, in the 18th and early 19th century gems stone rings were more popular. Gimmel (or gammal) rings are hoops joined together that can not be separated unless you cut through one of  them. Often the rings were separated so both the soon-to-be-bride and groom had a hoop. then they were joined together after the marriage ceremony for the bride wear.

As cultures evolved so did the grandness of the wedding and engagement rings. The rings were not only symbols of love, but also a means to show wealth.  This hasn't changed much, as we still ooh and ah over a huge diamond. And thanks to DeBeers (the largest diamond producer), who in 1940's set the standard on how much a man should spend on an engagement ring (2 month salary).  We can also thank DeBeers' marketing for the line "a diamond is forever".  Suffice it to say that single company is the reason Diamonds are the most popular wedding and engagement ring stone.

This post is sponsored by Mather, Pennsylvania, wedding planners.

Moms have always played a role in their daughter's wedding day.  The groom's mother also has a role in some wedding traditions.  The mother-son dance is probably the best known wedding tradition.

In Korea the groom gives his mother-in-law-to-be a goose.  Traditionally this was a live goose. However, it has become a Western wedding tradition, and the groom gives the bride's mother a wooden goose. Geese mate for life, so the giving of a goose symbolizes to the bride's mother the groom will take care of the bride for life.

The Amish mother of the bride sews the bride's wedding dress. This tradition has evolved into the mother helping to select or even paying for the bridal dress.  In Mexico one old tradition is that the mother and the bride pray before going to the church.

During a Hindu wedding the mother of the bride helps the bride onto a stone slab and speaks to her on how to prepare for a new life, this is called Shila Arohan. In Greece mothers will collect linens, tableware, and other household items as their daughter grows-up.  These items will go to her daughter to furnish her household.  This tradition was taken from the days when the bride's family had to pay a dowry.

Moms' roles in weddings as history shows,  is one of support, wisdom and love.

This post is sponsored by Loranger, Louisiana invitations and stationery.

Wedding vows are the one thing every wedding has in common.  No matter the location, every couple uses words to express their commitment to one another.  Some couples chose to go with traditional religious vows, while other couples may choose traditional religious vows, adding in a few words of their own.

Non-religious couples may use the basic civil commitment vows, or write their own.  When couples decide which vows they wish to speak on their wedding day, they are embracing their culture, their upbringing and their take on marriage.

Today's couples are varied, with many choosing to write their own; however, many more choose the standard well-known vows. Whatever their choice, a couple's chosen vows are words that will live on throughout their marriage and serve as a reminder of their love and commitment to each other.

Traditional wedding vow:

I, ___, take you ___, to be my wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part.

Contemporary wedding vow:

I, ______, take you, ______, to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the man/woman you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.

Of all the decisions a wedding brings, the vows are among the most important choices a bride and groom face.  Choose wisely.  Follow tradition  or write your own, but remember at the end of the ceremony your commitment of your love is the most important of all.

This wedding vow post is sponsored by Wedding and Party Network's Formal Wear Providers.

Photo courtesy of Carol Hutchings Photography

Scandinavian wedding ceremonies include several touching traditions that can be easily incorporated into any ceremony. Many of these wedding traditions are simple, meaningful gestures that allow a couple to join in the history of thousands of couples that have gone before them.

The Swedish two coins tradition is a sweet sentiment. Before a wedding in Sweden, the bride's mother gives her a gold coin to put in her right shoe, and the bride's father gives her a silver coin to put in her left shoe.  The coins represent their wish that she will never be without.  It is a sweet way for the parents to say, "You're leaving us, but you're still a part of us."  This unique wedding tradition lets the bride know that she will always have her parents' love and prayers that she may never be poor.

Another wonderful Scandinavian wedding tradition originates from Norway.  It involves a bride-to-be walking from house-to-house carrying a pillow case and collecting her wedding gifts, while an older gentleman carries an umbrella or parasol over her.  The umbrella symbolizes protection and shelter.

In Norway the friends and family of the bride and groom plant small pine trees on either side of their home to symbolize fertility. The bride and groom can then watch the seedlings grow throughout their years together.

All three of these unique wedding traditions can be easily incorporated into your wedding ceremony.  The Swedish two coins tradition is a simple, touching gesture from a bride's parents on her wedding day. An easy way to incorporate the Finnish umbrella tradition would be to have the father of the bride carry an umbrella over his daughter in her outdoor wedding.

The Norwegian tree planting tradition could be in the form of a gift from the wedding attendants.  The bride and groom could also give seedlings to their maid-of-honor and best man, or the bride and groom can buy certificates that a tree has been planted in the attendants' names.

Old traditions in modern times with modern weddings allow us to embrace symbolism and add a unique touch to a wedding. Looking back while simultaneously looking forward is a great way to make your wedding both one-of-a-kind and full of depth and history.

Need more ideas about unique wedding and party gifts? Check out our unique and personalized gifts page!
Photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.

Wedding Traditions Influenced By The Mayans

Many wedding traditions, that take place today, come from people of civilizations that no longer exist.  The Mayans are one example of those civilizations. Many Mayan wedding traditions can be found in the wedding ceremonies of today.

Mayans And The Wedding Unity Candle

The use of a unity candle today for instance may stem from the Mayan culture.  The Mayans, as a means to incorporate the spiritual world into their wedding ceremonies, used a candle to unite the feminine (Mother Earth)  and masculine (Cosmic Energy). Candles were used in other ways as well. For instance, four candles would be placed on an alter during the wedding ceremony. These candles were placed on each corner of the altar representing  north,  south,  east, and west which had a very symbolic meaning for the Mayan people.

Mayans And Wedding Flowers

For the Mayans, flowers are symbolic of their gods. The North God is represented by red flowers, the East with yellow flowers, the South with purple flowers, and West with white flowers.  Today's weddings are full of flowers and we still choose the colors based up ancient symbolism.  Red flowers symbolize love. Yellow equals new beginnings. While purple means success and white represent purity.

Mayans And Chocolate Fountains

We can probably thank the Mayans for the use of chocolate fountains at wedding receptions.  As far back as 2600 years ago, Mayans had chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We can surmise that if they had it that often it probably was served ass a wedding tea. If the Mayans were the ones who gave birth to the chocolate fountain wedding reception custom, then kudos to them. It is yummy tradition.

As we plan a wedding, we may not always know why custom dictates the use of roses or a chocolate fountain or even a white wedding dress. But, we do know that previous cultures found valued and symbolism in these things.  Incorporating the traditions of our ancestors makes the wedding ceremony more meaningful.

Wedding dresses have been worn by brides in some form or fashion since weddings began.  But why is white the color most often chosen in western weddings? Why do others cultures use red for wedding dresses?  Both are interesting questions. To learn more about the color tradition of wedding dresses, we can start with our western culture and move around the globe.

Western Culture Prefers White Wedding Dresses

White wedding dress became fashionable when Queen Victoria wed in 1840.  White wedding dresses were reserved for the elite, as they couldn't be worn again or washed.  Less fortunate brides would wear white but then dye them another color or forgo a wedding dress — marrying in everyday clothes. As time went on, the white wedding dress became the symbol for virginity and/or purity.  Christian cultures have perpetuated the tradition.

Eastern Cultures Prefer Red Wedding Dresses

Red, Silver, White and Gold Play A Large Part in Asian Wedding Dresses.
Red or brightly colored shades of red are common in Asian (China, Japan, Vietnam, etc.) weddings dresses.  In China, wedding dresses are embroidered with dragon and phoenix symbols on red fabric with silver, white and gold threading. The phoenix and dragon are symbols of male and female. In Japan, the bride wears a traditional white Kimono, but then changes into a red one (symbolizing good luck) after the wedding ceremony.

Red, Gold and White Are Wedding Dress Color Choices For Indian Brides
With a heavy Hindu base, bridal attire in Indian is usually some shade of red. In fact, the prominent colors for Hindu brides are a combination of red, gold and white. However, bridal attire can vary by the region.

Gold Is The Delight Of Egyptian Brides
Egyptian bride wear gold or gold embellished wedding dresses. The dresses tend to be white linen with gold threading. On certain occasions, the dress is embellished with silver thread.

Every cultural has a rich and deep symbolism related to color. Wedding dress color takes it que from these long standing traditions. As the world's cultures met so do their customs and traditions. In our western culture, we are seeing brides mix color styles from other cultures into their wedding dress selections. It is truly a global world in which we live. Brides today have the flexibility to add color to their white wedding dress. So think outside of the traditional white wedding dress.

Wedding and Party Network, your number one wedding planning resource has a few examples of colorful wedding dresses below.

In researching the question; why do grooms carry the bride over the threshold? I found many interesting reasons.

One reason is it was considered bad luck for a bride to trip over the threshold of her home. This just doesn’t seem romantic enough. Certainly, I could see how this would be bad luck especially for the groom. After all if the bride became injured or mad because she tripped, it could make the honeymoon a not so pleasant one.

Further research shows, a slightly more romantic note. In days of old a woman was not to give up her virginity so easily. Thus the man would sweep her off her feet and assert his manliness over her carrying her off to the honeymoon bed. This way the women even though married would still appear virtuous. However romantic as that might seems, it probably is rooted more in the tradition of kidnapping of women (during Roman times) and making her a bride to her abductor.

In some cultures, it is believed one's family demons would follow the bride to her new home. To keep them at bay, the groom would carry the bride over his threshold. By carrying the bride over the threshold the demons could not follow or ever enter their new home.

In today's western countries, the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold is still practiced. I suspect, mostly, because it has been romanticized in TV and movies. Just a little tip for those who want to carry on this tradition – make sure the groom has been working out.

This wedding tradition is one of the many wedding planning resources brought to you by WeddingandPartyNetwork.com.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Well this is a hard one My daughter is getting married in April 2010 and has not spoken to her Dad in 2 yrs because of a argument that involved his new girl friend..She misses him dearly and would love him to give her away at her wedding..But she just won't give in to talk to him about it..Is it wrong for me to talk to him and to let him know that this is what she wants more than anything is him to be there and to give her away…Its very hard on her and me I not sure I want to help as I think this would make her wedding day be complete Thanks Cheryl

Celebration Advisor

You do have quite the dilemma.  As a parent, you want to give your child everything they want and deserve.  When your child is an adult, it is harder to do this without seeming like you are trying to control the situation.  So, the answer to your question boils down to the relationship you have with your daughter and your part in the argument she had with her father.  If you had nothing to do with the argument, it is perfectly acceptable to act as an mediator between the two.

Before doing so, I would first ask myself a few questions. Do you have a cordial relationship with her father? Do you speak to him on an occasional basis? Does he want a relationship his daughter?  If the answers are basically yes.  You can certainly act as a mediator for the two of them.

I would begin with your daughter.  Have a frank and open conversation with her.  Not every wedding ceremony involves the father giving the bride away.  Discuss the options with her. Giving the bride away can be an honor held by someone other than the biological father.  She can have you, a favorite uncle, a special grandfather or a family friend give her away. It may even help her to understand the wedding tradition behind giving the bride away.  But if down deep in her heart her wedding will only be complete if her father gives her away, let her know that you are will to speak to her father for her.

Communication between you and your daughter is the key in this situation.  As long as she is ok with you discussing the wedding with her father, it will be perfectly acceptable for you to do so.

May her wedding be the happiest day of her life.