Wedding Garters

Home > Wedding Supplies > Wedding Garters

August 20th, 2008 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Wedding Garters

Wedding Dresses - What To Wear

You have begun to plan your wedding and you want your wedding to
be special and unique to your and your future spouse. There are
traditions and superstitions that have grown around the wedding
ceremony, the bride, and what the bride wears in particular.
Let's take a look at some of them.

Q. Does the color of the dress really matter?

Most brides wear white to symbolize maidenhood. White also is
the symbol of purity and virginity. Cream and Ivory are also
acceptable colors and they carry the same symbolism as white.

Q. Are there rhymes about wedding customs?

There are several but let's look at just two of them. There is
the well known 1. Something old, something new; Something
borrowed, something new, and a six-pence in her shoe.

This rhyme talks about different color wedding dresses and what
they mean.

2. Married in white, you've chosen right. Married in blue, your
love will always be true. Married in peaRl, you will live in a
whirl. Married in brown, you will live in town. Married in red,
you'll wish yourself dead. Married in yellow, ashamed of your
fellow. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in pink,
your spirit will sink. Married in gray, you'll go far away.

Q. What types of dresses are appropriate for different times of
the day?

A formal daytime wedding is when the bride wears a white, ivory
or pastel colored floor length gown with a train and a long veil.

For a formal evening wedding, the bride would wear the same type
of dress as for the daytime formal but with more elaborate train
and fabric.

For a semiformal daytime wedding, the bride usually wears a
white or pastel colored floor or tea length dress with an elbow
length or shorter veil.

For a semiformal evening wedding a more elaborate fabric and
trim can be used but the dress and the veil is the same as for
the semiformal daytime wedding.

For an informal wedding the bride can wear a white or pastel
colored floor or tea length dress. She could also wear a dressy
suit. A short veil or a hat is optional.

Q. Why does the garter get thrown by the groom?

It was thought to be good luck to get a piece of the bride's
clothing or flowers, you would receive good fortune. In the 14th
century Europeans gathered around the bride to try to remove her
garter for good luck. In order to get away the bride would throw
her bouquet into the crowd. The groom removes her garter and
tosses over his shoulder to the crowd. The single man who
catches the garter gets the privilege of putting the garter on
the single woman who caught the brides bouquet.

Q. Do traditions exist in reference to the bride's shoes?

One tradition said that the father of the bride would give the
groom a pair of the bride's shoes to symbolize the passing of
the responsibility of the care of the daughter to the groom.

A bride puts a penny in her shoe to ensure that she and her
husband will have good luck and wealth.

Q. Why is it bad luck for a bride to wear pearls?

An old superstition from Mexico says that the bride should not
wear pearls on her wedding day because they are the tears she
will cry during her marriage.

Q. What is the Dorothy Bag?

The Dorothy Bag was originally called the Dolly Bag and was
carried by the bridesmaids. They were full of confetti to throw
at the bride and groom after the ceremony. In more modern times
however the bride carried the Dorothy Bag as a small purse with
some personal effects. Most brides now carry the bag with a
bridal handkerchief a penny or quarter and it is used to carry
cards and money in, so they can use it on their honeymoon.

Q. Why is it that the groom should not see the bride in her
outfit before the ceremony?

The groom should not see his bride before the wedding because it
is believed to mean that the marriage is doomed. Years ago,
marriages were arranged and the couple didn't set eyes on one
another till after the wedding ceremony. It was after the
ceremony that the veil was lifted and the groom and bride were
able to kiss which is the symbol of a beginning of a physical
relationship. The reasoning was that if the groom saw his bride
before the wedding and didn't like her looks he might cancel the
wedding. This had the potential of dividing two countries or
regions because marriages were often between tribes or
countries.

Q. Why do some brides leave the last stitch undone until just
before she is ready to leave for the wedding?

This stems from the superstition that it is unlucky for a bride
to wear her complete outfit before the big day. Some brides
leave the last stitch undone to ensure good fortune.

Q. Do I have to adhere to any of these traditions or
superstitions?

No of course you don't have to use them you can make your
wedding your own. It might be interesting though to look at your
cultural history and see what superstitions or traditions might
be unique to your heritage. The Celtics have many superstitions
and traditions surrounding weddings and brides in particular.
The world's religions often have their own traditions, rites, or
superstitions. If you and your future spouse have a different
heritage it might be fun to see if you can use some from each of
your cultures. This would make your wedding unique and probably
fun

Ken & Mika's Wedding -- Garter Removal