Wedding Party Guide

Wedding accessories are often highly important to the bride and to the overall wedding day in general. Wedding accessories can be anything from bridal party gifts to a cake topper. There are so many wedding accessories to choose from it can be a little overwhelming sometimes but the few extra minutes you spend on picking some accessories will really make a great difference to your wedding. With so many things to choose from you can really go that extra mile to insure your wedding day will be perfect.

Some accessories that are often most important for the bride are the wedding shoes, their veil and their wedding jewelry. These are often on the top of the list and should be taken care of right away so you can worry about other things. Other accessories that brides often worry about is having a garter, giving their bridesmaids some gifts and even tiaras. Some great bridesmaids gifts would be candles, a picture frame or even a piece of  jewelry. Some brides like to get personalized shirts and pants that read bride or the name of their soon to be husband.

Some important wedding accessories for the grooms include gifts for their groomsmen, cuff links, and shoes. A great option for groomsmen gifts would be a nice money clip, an engraved pen set or even a tie clip. Many times the grooms wedding accessories are a second thought to the brides accessories but they are very important also. The groom’s accessories are just as important to having a perfect day as the brides.

Some other wedding accessories that are top priority are the invitations, the table place cards and if the bride and groom want special toasting glasses. Some fun accessories many couples choose to use is a guest signing book where guests can sign their name and leave a small note of congratulations. Some couples also like to give their guests some party favors. Some great wedding accessories that work well for party favors are photo albums, a set of glass cups or even home baked goods wrapped up in cute wedding bags. Many couples also make their centerpieces a top priority. They are something that sit on the table in front of your guests all night so they are rather important.

Overall there are dozens and dozens of wedding accessories to choose from and they do make a significant difference to your wedding and wedding party. Some are a necessity such as shoes but others are just fun to add to the wedding. Your wedding day is a memorable and exciting time and you want it to be a great day that you will never forget. With that being said be sure to get all the wedding accessories you want and need to make it your perfect day.

Historical Source of Traditions Regarding Weddings

Every culture has its traditions.  American culture is no exception and regarding tradition, nothing is more traditional that the wedding ceremony.  Of course, we as a culture are more diverse than ever before, and the actual marriage ceremony is often very different from one service to another service.  However, there are some traditions that are observed from one wedding to another which are a part of our culture.  One such tradition regarding weddings is the bridal shower.

Bridal Showers

This custom actually dates to medieval England.  In London and other major city areas, the night before the wedding, a feast would be held in which the bride would brew ale and sell it to the invited guests at very high prices.  This was referred to as the Bride Ale and is on possible source for the term bridal.  The money collected was to provide the prospective bride with a dowry.

Regarding dowries, these were sums of money that were to be paid to the family of the groom to compensate them for the “loss” of their son.  The first historical reference to a “Bridal Shower” can be found in the June 4th 1904 issue of the Grand Rapids Michigan Even Press in which the writer says “And may derive from the custom in Victorian times for the presents to be put inside a parasol, which when opened would “shower” the bride-to-be with gifts.”

The Toast

There is much historical argument regarding the origin of this tradition, but you would have to attend many weddings before you would attend one in which the best man does not deliver a speech, laden with quotes and stories regarding the groom.  Traditionally this humorous and uplifting speech is intended to give the Bride the “real story” on her prospective husband.  Of course, there is occasionally a toast to the broad, which is accompanied with wise quotes about love from the groom or the bride’s father.

The Reception

The tradition most likely goes all the way back to the beginning of the wedding itself.  The various details regarding the celebration are very different from culture to culture but always include a variety of speeches and traditional dances.  This is generally a feast and in some cultures can last days!  There are practices that involve gifts of money, gold, and other valuable items to start the couple’s life with.  Regarding the honeymoon, this term may come from a French term “lune de meil” [lit. "Month of honey"], referring to a one-month supply of Mead (an alcoholic beverage made from honey) that was given to the happy couple to allow them to be happy and left alone for one month. Talk about a wedding party!