What I Love About Chuppahs

When I designed my first Chuppah, I loved the unique opportunity this was to create a sacred place of love and unity. Not being Jewish, this was not a tradition I was familiar with, so designing it was also a wonderfully eye-opening cultural experience. Naturally I love celebrations, but I have a special place in my heart for all things wedding.

In case you do not know, the Chuppah is featured at traditional Jewish weddings. According to Chabad.org,

The chuppah is a tapestry attached to the tops of four poles. The word chuppah means covering or protection, and is intended as a roof or covering for the bride and groom at their wedding.

Planning & Inspiration

Trend Watch: Champagne Wishes

by admin

Silvers and golds have always been popular colors associated with weddings. Harkening back to the days of royalty, matching so elegantly with our jewelry choices, always complimenting whatever floral arrangements our creative hearts might aspire to; this is gold and silver. These two classic metallic shades have it made when it comes to most wedding color palettes.

But, as of late, a certain dark horse has taken center-stage trend-wise when it comes to metallics. You’ve probably already seen it as you browse the latest wedding pins on your favorite pinterest boards, if not already considered it for your own wedding, or seen it as another. The latest shade of metallics to become popular for weddings is the illustrious champagne. Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Why Do We Believe in “Something Blue” For Our Weddings?

by admin

Hey soon-to-be married ladies and gents! You have most certainly heard this saying before:

Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Aside from the silver sixpence, we still adhere to using these charms for “good luck.” But, how did we come up with these charms for good luck in the first place?

According to Jacobs and Nutt, authors of Folklore, the rhyme appears to originate in 1898 England (so that’s where the sixpence comes from):

In this country an old couplet directs that the bride shall wear:— “Something old, something new, Something borrowed, something blue.” “The something blue” takes, I am given to understand, usually the form of a garter, an article of dress which plays an important part in some wedding rites, as, for instance, in the old custom of plucking off the garter of the bride. “The something old” and ” something blue” are devices to baffle the Evil Eye. The usual effect on the bride of the Evil Eye is to render her barren, and this is obviated by wearing “something borrowed”, which should properly be the undergarment of some woman who has been blessed with children: the clothes communicate fertility to the bride. (page 128)

Planning & Inspiration

Should You Use the RSVP Card?

by admin

With the advent of social media and emails, it has become easier and more common for people to use these methods for their wedding invitations. The same goes for the RSVP, even if someone received a paper invitation that included a mail-able RSVP card. But just like a cyber-based invite loses the charm, thoughtfulness, and delight of opening a real invitation, so does missing the opportunity to open the RSVPs if you are the bride.

Without traditional RSVPs, weddings just aren’t the same.

Take it from these frustrated brides on WeddingWire. After spending so much time designing their invitations and intentionally including RSVPs (some with postage included) as a practical and special way to plan for the number of guests at theirwedding (not to mention the seating arrangement) not getting those RSVPs back feels like full-frontal rudeness. The truth is, it kind of is. The even harder truth is, it may not be that easy to get your guests to utilize the RSVP cards unless you essentially ONLY acknowledge the paper-based RSVPs. Policing people for the sake of your special day really seems counterintuitive and wholly unpleasant.

Planning & Inspiration

Wedding Foods Trends of 2014

by Rachel Trimarco

Are you part of the Millennial Generation, aka Generation Y? If you were born between the 1980s up to the early 2000s, you are! Right now this demographic represents the largest portion of the wedding population. That means what is influencing Millennials is also shaping the trends of today’s weddings. Being a Millennial myself I spend a lot of time reflecting and thinking creatively about my future, including planning for my wedding. Apparently, this is pretty typical for us Millennials. Not necessarily the wedding planning, but creative thinking. We are considered highly creative. Do you do the same? Have you been doing it for your wedding planning? I hope so! Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Ceremony Playlist Recommendations?

by Elianna Phelps

Here are some options for your ceremony music, categorized by ceremony style!

TRADITIONAL

Processional: Bride Chorus (Wagner)

Recessional: Wedding March (Mendelssohn)

NEW TRADITIONAL

Prelude: “Apotheosis” (Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty)

Processional: “Spring” (Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons)

Bride’s Processional: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (Bach)

Recessional: “La Rejouissance” (Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks)

GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS

Prelude: “Amazing Grace” (John Newton)

Processional: “In This Very Room” (Ron and Carol Harris)

Bride’s Processional: “St. Anthony’s Chorale” (Haydn)

Recessional: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (Hans Georg Nageli)

MODERN

Prelude: “You and I” (Stevie Wonder)

Processional: “In My Life” (The Beatles)

Bride’s Processional: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” (Lauryn Hill)

Recessional: “Beautiful Day” (U2)

Planning & Inspiration