Something Borrowed: Traditions from Around the World

As we approach the end of June, we are sad to say goodbye to our month of wedding traditions. However, as we get closer to one end, we are also taking our first steps toward a new, exciting beginning. We will be opening in our new location in less than two weeks and our whole team agrees that this adventure feels surreal. We are all going to miss our location in downtown Warren greatly, but change can only be for the better. We hope you are all getting excited too and we can't wait to reveal our gorgeous new store to all of our loyal customers!

In the spirit of change, we are talking about wedding traditions once more this month, but with a little twist. Many brides today are still deeply connected to their roots and their culture. For example, big Italian, Irish, and Greek families are still around and have generations of wedding traditions that will likely never fade out. However, some brides come from a line of mixed cultures and traditions and choosing which to honor on the big day may not always be the easiest decision.

For this final June post, we invite you to take a tour around the world with us! Perhaps your "something borrowed" can be one of these timeless traditions from a different culture or one of the many that make up your ancestry.

South Africa:
It's tradition in South Africa for the parents of the bride and groom to bring fire from their own homes to light the hearth of the newlyweds. The act is a symbol of unity as they bring together fire and light from their own childhoods into a fireplace they will both share.

Jumping the broom is another tradition from South Africa in which the newlyweds hop over a broom to symbolize sweeping away the past and leaping into their future together!

Poland:
A fun Polish wedding tradition is known as the money dance. Guests are invited to share a one-on-one dance with the bride, for a donation of course. The maid of honor is in charge of collecting the money which then goes toward the honeymoon fund. In more adventurous families, such as mine, the guests are given a shot to toss back before joining the bride on the dance floor!

Germany:
In Germany, it is customary for the bride and groom to immediately test the strength of their union after saying "I do." The newlyweds must prove their ability to work together as they saw a log in half in front of their guests. That sounds like an awful lot of hard work!

India:
In India, it is popular tradition to draw elaborate henna designs on the hands of the bride as well as her female friends and family members. Henna has many spiritual meanings and is generally used to show the intricate bond between a man and his wife.



Ireland:
Handfasting is an ancient Irish tradition in which the hands of the bride and groom are tied together with rope or ribbon to signify their unity. A similar tradition can be found in other cultures and is noted as the root of the famous phrase "tying the knot."

Peru/England:
In place of the bouquet toss, in is tradition for single female guests to participate in a different event in Peru. The wedding cake is made to include several pieces of ribbon baked into the layers. The female guests each pull a ribbon and the one to pull out a ring is said to be the next to marry. A slightly different version is done in England in which each ribbon has a different charm on the end and they are designed to tell the guest's future.

Labyrinth
One tradition that's gained some popularity is one that can be seen in a few different cultures. A wedding involving a labyrinth includes the bride and groom walking the path separately and joining in the middle for their ceremony. At the end, the two walk out together to symbolize the unity of their paths in life.

Which wedding traditions would you "borrow" for your special day?

Photo Credit: matara; buzzfeed; theknot; flatbrokebride

Sources: bridalguide; buzzfeed; destinationweddingmag; labyrinthsociety

Out with the Old and In with the New

It's been quite the dreary week with all this rain, so hopefully a bright new blog post will lift your spirits today! As you've undoubtedly heard by now, Evaline's Bridal is moving! In the spirit of this big change, much of this month is about moving on from the old and welcoming the new. We've been cleaning out our closets, ditching worn boxes and styles, and are so excited for the promises of this new adventure.

But the store isn't the only thing experiencing some big changes. The wonderful world of weddings is also starting to trade old rules for new ones. Take a peak at some of our favorite new fresh takes on wedding traditions.

Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue. 
Don't get us wrong, we still absolutely love these traditions, but maybe having 6 pence in a shoe isn't quite as practical these days. Your something blue no longer has to be hidden or subtle. We adore seeing brides go bold with a pair of rockin' royal heels. Or maybe you want to include the tradition without making it a big deal. These cute bridal pins are a lovely way to honor the good luck charms with a slightly modern twist. Pin it to your bouquet or inside your gown; you'll know it's there even if it's not noticeable.

Your Wedding Dress has to be White
or ivory, or off white... One of our favorite bridal trends today is the colored gown. We feature quite a few spectacular gowns in store that are gold, champagne, black and white, blush, and even blue. The possibilities are endless! It's your special day and the gown should reflect your personality, so don't be afraid to expand your horizons.

You Can't See Each Other Before the Ceremony.
We know, we know, it's supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day before the ceremony. But, it's 2015 and they also say it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day. Maybe it's time to shake the superstition and embrace the possibilities. First look photos are adorable and gorgeous. Plus, seeing each other before the ceremony gives you the chance to shake out some of the nerves. If you're still not ready to completely abandon the tradition, we also love the idea of using a wall to hold hands or pray together before the ceremony. Even exchanging gifts or notes in the same way can create an intimate moment for the two of you before you spend the rest of the day surrounded by friends and family.

Your Engagement/Wedding Ring has to be a Diamond.
Brides everywhere are trading the diamond for all sorts of other gorgeous stones, and why not? There are so many other stunning options such as sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Don't take our word for it, just check out these jaw dropping alternatives!

See more traditions you can twist on The Knot and check back next week for ideas on wedding traditions you can borrow from other cultures!

Photo Credit: somethingturquoise; bridebox; stylemepretty; eragem; zulily; etsy

The History of Popular Wedding Traditions

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." That's right, welcome to June, one of our favorite months! Can you guess why? We are right in the heart of wedding season and each year we like to celebrate by spending the whole month talking about wedding traditions - both old and new.

There are a wide variety of wedding traditions that date back hundreds of years and have evolved from many different cultures. To kick off the month with some fun, here are some stories about how some of the most popular wedding traditions started out!

The Bridal Party:
In Anglo-Saxon days, when the groom was about to abduct his bride, he needed the help of many friends, known as the "bridesmen" or "brideknights." The gentlemen would make sure the bride arrived at the ceremony on time and got to the groom's house safely afterwards. The bride also had women to help her, known as the"bridesmaids" or "brideswomen." It is also said that bridesmaids were to accompany the bride on her wedding day in order to confuse lurking evil spirits.

The Bride on the left, Groom on the right:
When the groom fought off warriors who also wanted his bride, he would hold onto her with his left hand while fighting them off with his sword in his right hand. This is why the bride stands on the left, and the groom on the right.

Something Blue:
In Biblical days, blue represented purity. Thus the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire, hence something blue.

The Veil:
In the cases of arranged marriages, the groom's family would inform him that he was to marry, but they very rarely let him see the bride before the wedding. After all, if the groom didn't like the bride's looks, he might not agree to the marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all eternity for the first time at the ceremony.

The White Wedding Gown:
Until 1840, when Queen Victoria's all-white gown with a honiton-lace veil became fashionable, a bride wore her best dress of whatever color. In Victorian times, white was a symbol of affluence and later took on an aura of virginal purity. Now, white is again a symbol of celebration, as in Roman times.

The Bridal Shower:
The shower evolved as an alternative dowry. In Holland, a bride's disapproving father would sometimes refuse to contribute to her dowry, so supportive villagers "showered" her with household goods.

The Aisle: 
A bridal path strewn with rose petals was thought to ward off evil spirits below ground and grant fertility. White aisle runners are also thought to secure the bride's safety as well.

Do you have any fun stories about wedding traditions? We'd love to hear them!

Photo Credit: partymarshmallow.tumblr; brides.com;

Information: Wedding Traditions and Customs History