How will you say "I do?" - Traditional Vows vs. Creating Your Own Ceremony

Since the 1600s weddings in western cultures have begun with the words "Dearly Beloved" and included passionate phrases like 'til death do us part.' These days it seems like couples want their  wedding day to reflect who they are and be tailored to their personalities in every way. This includes the wedding vows. If you are still on the fence about whether you want to write your own, search the web, or go with tradition - consider the pros and cons of each approach.

Creating Your Own Ceremony

This is the most romantic approach to wedding vows.

The pros: These vows will be 100% unique. Even if you piece together phrases from pre-written ceremonies no other couple will have spoken the words before in exactly the same way. You can make them as simple and sweet or as passionate and lengthy as you deem necessary. 

The cons: Writing your own vows can be stressful. It is too easy to write too much or too little. You wouldn't want the groom to give a full page speech for the bride to respond with two sentences. Another negative side is the fact that some more rigid religions will not accept your vows.

Advice: Couples should sit down together and come up with some basic guidelines. Things to consider are; how long you want the ceremony to last and what you want to include. Be sure to memorize your vows before the wedding. It is a good idea to also include a little notecard that can be discretely tucked away into a pocket or bouquet for reference. If your religion does not allow you to write your own vows, you can always exchange them at your rehearsal dinner or reception.

Traditional Vows

There is something very special about speaking the same words that have created marriages for thousands of years.

The pros: Reciting your vows after the reverend is easy. The words carry the weight and meaning of tradition and while they are often simple. They are probably the words you spoke when playing wedding as a child so that element of fairy tale is definitely there. They are also perfect for vintage theme weddings that want to play on nostalgia.

The cons: Some couples find traditional vows to be a little bland. They may not suite your individual style, culture, or situation. Your bride may not want to say "to love, honor, and obey" for example.

Advice: If you love the meaning tradition carries and you want a low stress approach, go for it! Your guests may know the script, but they will also see how the words take on a new meaning when spoken by such a great couple! There is also comfort in the familiar.

It is completely acceptable to write some of your vows, use some portions from a pre-written ceremony, and tie in your favorite elements of a traditional wedding. Your vows are an important part of your wedding ceremony. While the promises are real and serious, that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with it too!

Good Luck!

Say 'I do' In Daring Colors

This just in...Not all brides are wearing white on their wedding day! Well you may have already caught on to this trend but according to our site's Facebook fans this is becoming more and more common. I've been hearing about pinks, and silver and aubergine! Whether it is a pop of color or an overall hue, brides are showcasing their personal style (and their favorite colors) on their wedding day. My preferred way to interpret this trend is to not go too crazy with your color selection, pastels and shades of silver gray and champagne can be sophisticated and elegant. Or if overall color is just too unconventional for you, consider a dress with colored embellishments and beading or a lace overlay. Sashes are also a great (and a more traditional) way to bring in the color to your wedding ensemble. 

Color themes are very big with weddings these days and brides are embracing them more than ever. Maybe that's why their colors are being carried through into their wedding dress as well. Check out our wedding favors and accessory collections pages to find items to match or compliment your wedding dress and color scheme!

Image Credits: Colored wedding dress from Wai-Ching Clothing, Pink dress image from The Bohemian Bride, Wedding dress with black sash, Purple wedding gown from Vera Wang, White and gray gown from Elizabeth Fillmore, Blue wedding gown,  Champagne dress with sash from Sino-Treasure, Coral dress from J Crew, Yellow sweater image from Bride.net

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

 St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you love nothing more than a green beer and a room full of Irish cheer. Here are some fun ideas for your St. Patrick's Day celebration.

 

Green food coloring for your beer and other drinks is a must. Also try freezing pieces of clover inside the ice cubes for mixed drinks and other beverages. Go green with your menu. Spinach dip, asparagus wraps, guacamole and green frosted cupcakes are just a few things to consider.  Nothing beats corn beef and cabbage for a St. Patrick's Day party which is not only traditional but delicious.

For the fun party planner, pass out green beads, kiss me I'm Irish pins and green party hats as your guest enter. This will be a fun way to get the entire party in the spirit of the event. Another fun idea would be to make signs of traditional Irish toast and hang them on the walls or above doorways for your guest to read. Here are a few to get you started: 'May the winds of fortune sail you, May you sail a gentle sea. May it always be the other guy who says, 'this drink's on me.' and 'May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!'

 Ireland is rich with ivy so this too would be a great decoration. You can hang ivy around you door ways and windows to bring the green inside for your St. Paddy's Day party. Don't forget to also include Irish themed beer mugs and glasses for your guest to drink from. Another great idea would be including personalized napkins and cups. You can have them printed with an Irish design or saying and your guest will be talking about them for months to come.

 Now let's add some fun Irish music. You can locate Irish themed party music online or at your local party store. This will be another great way to get all of your guest into the theme of the party. There is nothing better than a house full of guest singing 'Danny Boy'!!

I hope I have gotten you excited and ready to plan your own St. Patrick's Day party. Have fun and be creative.

Owl Always Love You...Wedding Inspiration Board

Owls are back in a big way.  I urge all our fellow readers to jump on the owl bandwagon with me because this is one of the most adorable wedding themes I've seen in a while.  Besides being too cute, owls hold that feeling of mystery and wonder.  This theme would be perfect for pairing with softer earth tone wedding colors like the rustic browns and pale yellows seen below.

To put this 'Owl Always Love You' wedding theme together, incorporate items like sliced firewood for rustic table centerpiece bases and old stacked books to bring in the age-old wisdom symbolism.  Be sure to stamp all your stationery with owl images including your table numbers, invitations, favor bags, and wedding napkins.  Most importantly, remember to have fun with it.  This is a theme full of whimsy and is meant to showcase your personality and creativity.

Happy Planning!

Credits: Row 1, 2, 4, and 5: Bridal top hat, owl cake, groomsmen, yellow roses and owl on glasses by Whitney Lee Photography.  Row 3: Owl beer via Cute Hoots and owl favor bag from Paper Moon by Kat of etsy.com.  Row 4: Horned owl pendant from Morikaty of etsy.com.  Row 5: Wedding dress via Our Labor of Love. Row 6: Book image by Studio B. Row 7: Table centerpiece via weddingbee.com.

How to Incorporate the Cherry Blossom Wedding Theme

For the Chinese the cherry blossom is an omen of good fortune and is also an emblem of love, affection and represents spring. It is a very popular and beautiful spring wedding theme. Brown and pink have also become one of the hotter trends in wedding colors, which is a great match to the cherry blossom theme. The cherry blossom theme does not have to be pink and brown. There are many different spins you can put on this theme. Here are some tips to get you started.

Invitations: Because of the popularity of the cherry blossom it is extremely easy to find save the dates and wedding invitations with this theme. Doing a quick Google search should give you many options to choose from. Also check with your local stationary store.

Decorations: For centerpieces a simple cherry blossom branch in a tall vase would be beautiful and dramatic. Another idea would be to use the cherry blossom wine glass shade. They are not only gorgeous but they can be used again and again for other occasions. Don’t forget to add paper lanterns to the reception hall to give your décor that hint of an Asian theme.

Favors: I love the personalized cherry blossom hand fans. This is not only a lovely favor but they can be very useful if it is a warm day. The cherry blossom coasters are also a nice favor and something that your guest will actually use at home. For the bride that loves do it yourself projects, you can give mason jars of cherry jam with personalized labels.

Food: Serve a pink cocktail such as pink Champaign or incorporate a cherry in a signature drink. It would also be fun to add cherries to your menu. A nice cherry sauce over stuffed pork chops or a salad with cherries would be a few ideas. Ask you caterer for more ideas and tips. Of course, don’t forget the cake. A tall wedding cake with cherry blossoms down the side will be the perfect touch.

The above ideas should get you started down the right track if cherry blossoms are a theme you are interested in. Good luck.