Weddingbee PRO

I love this photo. The classy bride tossing her bouquet is my Aunt Elaine and the little girl in white trying to catch the bouquet is…my mom! The little socks and Mary Jane’s kill me.

This photo got me thinking about wedding traditions and which ones we will be including. Here is the little list {edit: this list is far from little. I hope you are comfy } I made of traditions, meanings, and if I think we are going to include them or break them:

1. The bouquet toss - Yes. But a bit different. I do not think it is a big deal if I throw my own bouquet. I know a lot of brides save them but they will die. I will save something else, like the ribbon they are going to be tied with and hopefully pass on. I think I will give my bouquet away to either my mom or split it and give one half to my sister and the other half to Deb, my future sister-in-law. With all that said, I am still going to do a toss, only I am going to hold a bundle of unbound flowers together and then toss them from a higher location and shower people with flowers. I think I will invite any and all the ladies to participate as well.

2. Giving the bride away - Yes. I am walking down the aisle with my dad. It is just one of those things I have always known about my wedding and something I am really looking forward to. Hopefully I do not cry. I will. I know this tradition reaches far back to the days of daughters being property of their fathers, dowries, and essentially a transfer of ownership from the father to now husband but…seriously. I am no one’s property. All parties involved - Dad and Rich - are aware of this. I do not think I am any less progressive or independent for wanting to do this. I see it as symbolic walk from the old life to the new.

3. Throwing rice - do people still do this? I like it, but with bird seed instead {so it will eventually be eaten once all is the throwing is done}. Thinking of our heritage {we are both French and Rich is half Italian}, in France people throw wheat, a symbol of bounty, after the ceremony. Italians throw candy and sugared nuts over couples, for sweetness in marriage, which is adorable.

4. First dance - Yes. Absolutely. I already started thinking of songs. I will also dance with my father and Rich will dance with his mother. I will probably make my mom dance with me too!

5. Cutting the cake - Yes. I have read so many comments about people saying it is disrespectful because you are smooshing cake into one another’s faces, but I think the symbolism has been lost {or was never realized}. The cake cutting and feeding is a symbolic gesture of a promise to always provide for one another. Of course you will provide for each other in many ways, but food is something you will always need….and you will always need each other. Plus, some say the amount of frosting you leave on each other’s lips is an indication of how sweet your married life will be. I say bring on the frosting!

{Is this getting too long? I am almost done.}

6. Wearing a veil - Yes. Once a symbol of purity and subservience, now they are worn because they are just so pretty! I will be wearing some type of bird cage veil.

7. The first kiss - Of course not the first kiss, but the first official kiss as bride and groom. Yes, we will kiss. I have been to at least one wedding recently where the couple did not kiss. I suppose it is their choice, but come on! Kiss me already so we can par-tay!

8. Toasts and the like - Yes. Not a speech, but a short, heartfelt, humorous yet tasteful toast from the best man and maid of honor.

9. Garter toss - Eh. I think this is one I really do not care to do and if I do not do a traditional bouquet toss, then what is the point?

10. Something old, new, borrowed, blue - Indeed. Not sure what yet, but plenty of items will be old and borrowed. The dress will be new and perhaps the sky will be blue.

11. Anything I forgot - Beige dress, not white. Rich will not see me until the moment I walk down the aisle. I think we would like to sit with our parents instead of a head table {Rich would like me to clarify that we do not want a sweetheart table and would like for our parents to join us at the head table}. Um, um…I am sure there are other traditions I may be leaving out, but this is enough for now.

What traditions are you including in your wedding and which ones are you not?