Superstition: Saving Your Wedding Cake

What I actually mean is there is a superstition that the bride and groom save the top layer of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary. You would actually share your wedding cake with your guests!

This superstition is usually told to my clients when they ask me how big of a wedding cake they should order. Most of them (like 95%) say "ewww...that is so gross." I just shrug in agreement. Here is how the superstition came about:

PAST: Have you ever been taunted with this schoolyard rhyme: “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage!” This rhyme was believed to be true before, that once a wedding took place, a baby was going to come shortly after, so therefore the wedding and christening ceremonies were often linked, as were the respective cakes that were baked for each occasion. Since the top tier of the wedding cake was almost always left over, couples began to see the christening as the perfect opportunity to finish the cake. Couples could then logically rationalize the need for three tiers — the bottom for the reception, the middle for distributing, and the top for the christening.

NOW: Although still used, the schoolyard rhyme has less of an impact now.  Couples enjoy saving the top layer of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary as a pleasant reminder of their special day. For the couples that don't like the idea of eating one-year old cake from the freezer, they ask their baker to recreate the top of their wedding cake for their anniversary.

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

 

Photo Credit: Whippt Desserts and Catering

Meaning of Love

I saw this picture on Pinterest and just had to share with everyone! I am in total agreement with it!

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

 

Photo Credit: Source

Dress(es) of the Week: Kitty Chen

It seems like I use the same words in every Friday's blog post: Stunning, dreamy, wow, drool...

Well, this week I am going to keep these words to myself but to tell you the truth, I am absolutely thinking these words. Here are some pictures of Kitty Chen's 2013 Bridal Collection. (Stunning, dreamy, wow, drool...)
        
~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon















Photo Credit: Kitty Chen

Alternatives to Wedding Confetti

Traditionally, guests throw various "confetti" to the bride and groom to wish upon them prosperity and fertility. Many brides like the tradition of guests throwing confetti at them after they are announced husband and wife, however, a lot of venue forbid this. Mostly because of the clean up afterwards is a huge pain. Even if a venue allows for it, you will have a hefty cleanup charge.

Check with your venue coordinator first but here is a possible solution: Flower fetti. These are real flowers, flower buds, or seedlings. Wedding Lavender buds (size of rice), laced with blue larkspur and white blooms, speak of devotion in the language of flowers. Have these in baskets, wedding cones, or organza bags for your guests. Can you ask for a better, more fragrant end to your ceremony?

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

Wildflower Confetti
One pail serves about 30 small scoops or fills 20 to 25 cones.

Wedding Blessing Herbs Flower Confetti

Photo Credits: Flower fetti

Superstition: Something old, new, borrowed and blue

The bride must wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Everyone knows this and says it like a wedding nursery rhyme. However, do you know what it signifies and why you need to do all of these things for a very lucky wedding?

THEN: Wearing “something old” expresses the newlywed couple’s desire to retain connections with their family once they enter into married life. Often this is an old garter given to the bride by a happily married woman so that the new bride would also enjoy a happy marriage. Wearing “something new” conveys that the couple is creating a new union that will endure forever and looking to the future for health, happiness and success. “Something borrowed” is an opportunity for the bride’s friends or family to lend her something special as a token of their love. And finally, “something blue” is a symbol of fidelity and constancy.

There is actually one more part to the rhyme - it ends with “…and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” Story says that placing a penny in the bride’s shoe will bring her a life filled with good fortune.

NOW: Many modern brides find it fun to keep with tradition by wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Brides are thinking of creative ways to incorporate all four items and sometimes these items act as double duty. One trend that I really love is when brides wear bright blue shoes with her wedding gown!

If you have other creative ways of incorporating this rhyme into your wedding day, please share! I would love to hear from you!

~Monica
Owner and lead designer @Wishahmon 

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs  

Dress(es) of the Week: Hayley Paige Spring 2013 Collection

If you are looking for a wedding gown with stunning back details, check out the Hayley Paige Bridal Spring 2013 Collection! Remember that after you walk down the aisle, all eyes are going to be on your back. Having some interest and extra detailing will keep all eyes on you whether you are facing them or not!

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon


 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Hayley Paige 

Colorful Bridal Bouquets

(Last week I blogged about alternative unconventional bouquets. I tried to link a post about colorful bridal bouquets, but it turns out I didn't post it yet. Huh?! Here it is now!)

Traditionally, brides carried aromatic bunches of garlic, herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits. Flowers eventually replaced herbs. Today, flowers now play a very important part in weddings.

I always ask my clients what is the most important thing to their wedding planning? The top answer is usually the wedding gown, flowers are a close second. When you meet with a florist, the first thing discussed is the wedding bouquet because of its importance. If you think about it, other than your groom, your bouquet will be in most of your wedding pictures. Take some time with your florist to design your bouquet and make sure you take him/her some pictures of bouquets you like. (Maybe you will like some of these pictures?)

~Monica

Owner and Lead Designer @ Wishahmon

Photo Credits: 1) Elizabeth Ann Designs  2) Jose Graterol Designs 3), 5) Style Me Pretty  4) Rock and Roll Bride 6)  Rachel Clingon Designs 7) Ceremony Blog

Superstition: Bad luck for the groom to see bride's gown before the wedding

When you get engaged, you are told a lot of different things you should do, shouldn't do, and must follow. This series looks into how various superstitions came about so you can decide for yourself.

Everyone has heard of the superstition that the groom should not see the bride's wedding gown before the ceremony, but do you know why? More and more grooms are accompanying their bride to look for her wedding gown. Thus, throwing this superstition away. Of course, it is up to you on whether or not you want your groom to see your gown before the ceremony. Here is how it came about...

THEN: Back in the day when arranged marriages were custom, the couple wasn’t allowed to see each other before the wedding at all. The wedding symbolized a business deal between two families. The father of the bride feared that if the groom met the bride before the wedding and thought she wasn’t attractive, he’d call off the wedding, casting shame onto the bride and her family. Therefore, it became tradition the bride and groom were only allowed to meet at the wedding ceremony so that the groom did not have the opportunity to change his mind. The idea was if the groom saw the bride at the last possible second, it would be too late to back out and not marry the bride.

NOW: Most brides stay true to this superstition because many believe it is more exciting and memorable when her groom sees her for the first time. Most couples do see each other before the ceremony though, formal pictures are taken before the ceremony when everyone is freshly done-up. It totally makes sense! In the end, do what you and your groom wants to do. It is your day!

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @ Wishahmon



Photo Credit: Docuvitae

Dress(es) of the Week: Kate Middleton Inspired Wedding Gowns

During the royal wedding, all eyes were on Kate Middleton's wedding gown. After the wedding, she set some pretty high standards for wedding trends. Brides coming to the Wishahmon - Glorious Gowns boutique always describe a wedding gown that sounds (looks) like Kate's.

I wanted to high five someone when I found gowns that resemble Kate's royal wedding gown. (Unfortunately, no one was around. Hence, this blog post!) These gowns are from the Manuel Mota 2013 Bridal Collection. Pure white wedding gowns with a lace overlay and a high neckline are elements that mimic Kate's gown.

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon









This one resembles Pippa Middleton's maid of honor gown!


These ones have hints of both Kate's and Pippa's gowns but definitely a style of it's own!








Photo Credits: Manuel Mota

Cute Alternative Wedding Bouquets

There are many different types of brides and a wedding should be about reflecting your personality. I have suggested floral bouquets, wired bouquets, and felt bouquets in past blog posts. If flowers are not your thing but you still want a bouquet when you walk down the aisle, how about looking into these cute alternative bouquets! These bouquets use different materials and some of them you can keep forever!

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

Button Bouquet (Esty) Offbeat Bride offers a tutorial on how to make your own.

Edible Bouquet (Green Wedding Shoes)

Map Flower Bouquet (Etsy)

Air Plant Bouquet (JL Designs)

Seashell Bouquet (Etsy)

Pom Pom Bouquet (Ruffled Blog)

Knitted Bouquet (Weddingany)

Parks and Recreation: Leslie Knope's Wedding Gown

Fighting bronchitis over the weekend, I thought I would so something productive like clear the PVR (couch potatoe-ing it.) As I was going down the PVR list, I decided to watch Parks and Recreation. This show is not my fave but it does have some funny moments. I have mostly been watching it because the main character, Leslie Knope got engaged and was planning her wedding. (Of course it has to be wedding related for me to be interested!)

I thought there was going to be a few of wedding planning episodes but Leslie decided to get married after a fundraiser. Quick wedding planning!

The episode was cute but the thing that made my heart melt was Leslie's wedding gown! The gown was half completed and her maid of honor finished the skirt for her. It looked like a bunch of newspapers but I was interested in what "newspapers" it were. I am almost never this curious but I googled her gown and found an article. Turns out the skirt was a collage of Leslie’s greatest achievements. Costume supervisor, Kirston Mann  had sewn together newspaper clippings about Leslie’s Harvest Festival victory and City Council win, her campaign flyers, and even portraits of her role models Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama. The flower on her waist was made out of the Pawnee city logo.

Turns out “It wasn't just a bunch of newspapers I had lying around,” Mann said. “Every single piece was pulled from a Parks episode — even though no one in a million years will be able to see all the details.” 

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

 

Photo Credit: Vulture

Dress(es) of the Week: Lace Wedding Gowns

Lace wedding gowns are all the rage since the Royal Wedding. Brides coming to the Wishahmon - Glorious Gowns boutique are always asking for lace wedding gowns. (Of course, we have lace gowns!) Some brides are determined to wear a lace gown because they have a specific wedding vision in mind. Some brides, after trying it on would worry about what their fiance would say. They floated the idea of a lace wedding gown to their fiance and the reaction they got was "You are going to wear a doily?"

Well, lace wedding gowns absolutely do not look like dollies. (Nothing against doilies though. I love them!) If you are still not convinced, check out the Errico Maria 2013 Bridal Collection.

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon











Not into lace? What about beading and feathers? (Love the color of her nail polish too!)










Photo Credits: Errico Maria