WEDDING NOTES™ - INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS

 Wedding customs from other countries can make an interesting addition to your wedding plans.  Consider these ideas shared by brides.

• ·        Mexico – guests for a heart shaped circle around the couple who dance their first dance in the center of this “circle of love”.

• ·        Belgium – a dressmaker can make a handkerchief for the bride and embroider her name and date on it.  After the wedding it is framed and kept by the bride who cherishes it until it is time to be handed down to the next bride where the process is repeated.

• ·        Germany-both the bride and groom carry a lighted floral laden candle to the altar.  They are placed by the unity candle throughout the ceremony and then used to light the unity candle as part of the ceremony.

• ·        Scotland –the couple drinks first from a Quaich or loving cup which is shaped as a bowl with two handles.  The customer dates back to the 15^th century and symbolizes two families coming together.  Tradition has it the couples who drink from it first will have happiness and good fortune.

• ·        Greece – bride and groom both wear a crown or wreath of flowers called stefana.  They are the symbol of royalty and the sanctity of marriage.  The groom removes his after the ceremony, but the bride keeps hers on as part of the wedding ensemble.

And one custom that should go away is the tradition of stuffing cake in each other’s face.  Feeding each other the first bite of cake is nice.  Smearing it all over each other’s face is not.  Certainly no bride wants a photo of herself covered in frosting.