Wedding Traditions and beliefs-Repost: Marriage Folklore and Superstitions

There are a ton of traditions surrounding weddings. Here are a few lesser known facts that I find interesting. 


• The opulent white wedding gown that is worn only once started with Hollywood-influenced weddings in the 1940's.

• The diamond engagement ring is a result of the De Beers ad campaign- "A Diamond is Forever". 

• The tiered wedding cake, however, is a descendent of a very old tradition!  Originally, the guests brought small cakes and put them in a pile at the wedding! This community-based custom evolved into the tiered wedding cake.  More recently, we've seen a departure from tiered cakes to more sculpted cakes!  A far cry from the heap-o-cake baked by everyone in town!


Familiarity with traditions and their histories can help create a more meaningful  celebration that resonates with your values.  I'm not saying you should or shouldn't follow any specific wedding custom. I am saying that if you are familiar with the origins of the traditions you choose to incorporate, they impart meaning that will personalize your celebration and make it even more memorable. 

Here's a list of some other wedding superstitions and beliefs for you to peruse. Enjoy!

Marriage Folklore and Superstitions: Explore Lesser Known Wedding Beliefs

Photographer Spotlight: Mandie Haberman of Red Gecko Studio

I’ve you’ve been following the buzz about Kelly and Mike’s Green Wedding, then you’re already familiar with Mandie and Red Gecko Studio!  If not, you should definitely check it out. Mandie’s photographs are beautiful and capture the beautiful real moments during the wedding day. Not only that, she writes one of the better blogs I've seen. She showcases each beautiful wedding she does with each couple's story. Reading it, you get a real sense of her affection for each couple she works with.

This is what she says about being a wedding photographer, “It is an amazing honor to be a part of some of the most beautiful weddings in Wisconsin. I love the details, the dresses, the shoes, the flowers, the smiles, the hugs, the tears, the dances, and especially the unexpected surprises that make each wedding day unique.” 

Her style is a blend of photojournalism and Artistic.  She specializes in relaxed portraiture and artistic, unique documentation of the wedding day. She loves capturing the little moments and large and small details that bring life to the memories after the day!

As far as her eco-friendly practices go, she works from her home office which saves a lot of resources in transportation and maintaining an office. She also does all her proofing and ordering online which saves a lot of paper and a lot of trees. Finally, for the eco-beautiful bride, she has access to eco-friendly albums, prints, canvasses, and more!

 

Here are some specs.

Website: http://www.redgeckostudio.com

Phone: 608-669-1268

E-mail: mandie@redgeckostudio.com

Address 5507 Quarry Hill Dr, Fitchburg, WI, 53711

Style: Relaxed Portraiture: Artistic blended with Photojournalism

Green Practices: She utilizes technology for on-line marketing, and photo editing- less printing and paper waste,  eco-friendly album options & home based business.

Price: Wedding packages start at $2800

Professional associations: Professional Photographers of America

Education: BS in Art from University of Wisconsin-Madison

Photographer Spotlight: Amy Lynn Schereck

While I was interviewing Amy Lynn Schereck, what impressed me most (aside from the beautiful images she creates for her clients) was her innate goodness. At the end, you can check out her list of charitable causes under “Specs”- but first, let’s talk about her photography…

One of the things she excels at is efficiently getting really good group shots. Even if your focus isn’t the group pictures with all the different family members, most people still want them, and Amy does them beautifully and efficiently! Beyond that, it’s all about the people at the party and the beautiful little details. She considers her style to be a combination of traditional and editorial.

When asked what people should look for in a wedding photographer, she didn’t hesitate.  “Chemistry,” she said, “I’m telling your story- If we don’t get along you won’t want me there!” Though with her calm warmth, I have a difficult time imagining the person who wouldn’t get along with her!

 

 “One of my favorite things [about being a wedding photographer] is when I’m editing photos, and I realize I’ve been smiling for the last ten minutes- remembering the special moments in the wedding.” She clearly relishes the relationships she develops with brides and grooms as she participates in their weddings. Click here to read glowing testimonials from former clients.

In addition to doing gorgeous wedding photography, Amy also donates a significant portion of her time and talent to charity. She regularly spends time with her “little sister” from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. She also photographs strays for the humane society- so they’ll have a better chance of getting adopted! See the list of charitable causes below to see the many ways she does good in the world using her photographic talent.

Overall, Amy Lynn Schereck is an excellent photographer whose strengths include beautiful wedding photography, an incredibly warm personality and strength of character to do good in the world.  What a great combination!

Here are some specs:

Website: http://www.amylynnschereck.com

Phone: (608) 239-1137

E-mail: amy@amylynnschereck.com

Style: Traditional combined with Editorial

Charitable Causes: Dane County Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Forward Community Investments, Gilda’s Club- Madison, Go Red for Women ~ Madison Chapter, Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Project Home ~ Wisconsin

Price: Wedding packages start at $1625

Experience & Education: Hobby photographer since 1979, 2^nd place in State Journal Photography contest 2001, Professional Photographer degree MATC 2004, In business as a professional photographer since 2004
Location: Anywhere! Local- National- Destination

Repoast: Offbeat Bride | 15 ways to throw an *affordable* eco-friendly wedding

I know there are a ton of ways to be eco-friendly with your celebration, and it does all depend on your personal values and your sensibilities.  Here is some pretty down-to-Earth advice by Offbeat Bride about being eco-friendly without breaking the bank!- Enjoy!


Offbeat Bride | 15 ways to throw an *affordable* eco-friendly wedding

15 ways to throw an *affordable* eco-friendly wedding

FEATURES By OFFBEAT MEGAN on MARCH 24, 2010 23
TAGS: ECO WEDDING


Click the link above to read their fabulous article!

ABC-WI Spring Retreat 2010 Part 1

Today, I went the annual spring retreat for the Wisconsin Branch of Bridal Consultants. There was a lot of really good information that I’ll be featuring over the next few posts, but first let me say that I LOVE Mary Charmoli, our state coordinator. Her educational retreats are always well run and informative. She fosters a really collegial atmosphere between wedding planners. You see, my competition is not other wedding planners; my biggest barrier to being hired by new clients is people having no idea what I do or why it’s worthwhile to hire a wedding/event planner. Therefore, the more experience people have with good event planners (like those who are actively pursuing educational opportunities and professional development), the more likely people are to hire event planners! So, here’s to a collegial relationship among event planners- may we all bring such peace to our clients that hiring us will become standard practice!

Our first presentation this morning was by Nikki Peterson of Crosstown Creative Solutions. Wow, this girl knows her stuff! She talked to us about our websites-actually critiquing some of our websites!  We discussed design basics and creating an effective website by limiting the number of colors and fonts, eliminating busy backgrounds and never publishing a site simply to say “Site Under Construction”.  She gave me a few suggestions to implement that I’m pretty excited about. Then she talked about Search Engine Optimization using SEO tools like key words from google.com/sktool.  Finally she offered a nice overview on using social media like Facebook.  Overall, a really nice presentation…did you know that the best time to send out your e-news letters is mid morning on a Monday?

Mary Charmoli of Saratoga Weddings, gave the next presentation on sales and closing the deal. It’s surprising how much simply comes back to good etiquette- like being punctual, considerate and listening to what your potential client is saying. Focus on what the client needs, and pay attention to non-verbal cues!

Other sections were tabletop designs from around Wisconsin, wedding planner favorites, and a really educational presentation on event lighting!  Check future posts for more on these topics!

Photographer Spotlight: Pierre’s Portrait Art

Pierre Stephenson is an award winning photographer who has been doing professional photography for the past 15 years, but I first had the pleasure of his acquaintance in February of ’09 when he and his wife and partner, Anna hosted a grand opening party for their studio! They are both warm and gracious hosts and fabulous photographers. Pierre has two professional passions. He loves wedding photography, but he also loves teaching and working with other photographers.

When asked what he loves most about being a wedding photographer he replied, “I get to play!  It’s so much fun being with people on one of the best days of their lives.” Pierre gets excited about every wedding he shoots.  He constantly pushes to do something new, unique and exciting. This not only makes for fantastic images, but it makes for a really fun experience. 


“Stagnation scares me more than anything else- It’s not about what I’ve done, it’s about what I’m going to do next!”

His second passion is for teaching other photographers and building connections and friendships. His mission is to bring up the standard of professional photography. As an established professional, he’s not afraid to share his knowledge with other photographers.  He feels that if he can help bring up the level of professional photography, it can only be good for photography as a profession.

He suggests that when you’re looking for a photographer, first look at their photographs and ask if they speak to you. If so, the most important thing to base your decision on is if you and your photographer “click”.  Your photographer is one of the professionals who will be at your side most of your wedding day. It’s important that you enjoy their company! Pierre finds that for his clients, it’s all about the experience of working with him. The final product-of course has to be fabulous, but that’s an effect of how much fun the experience was! Trust someone who has a track record. You want to make sure they’ll be in business long enough to fulfill their obligations to you! (Photographers are second only to restaurants in rate of failed businesses!).  Obviously, budget has to play a role in your final decision.

Here are some specs.

Website: http://www.pierresportraitart.com
Blog: http://www.pierresportraitart.com/blog.html

Phone: (608) 242-0120

E-mail: pierre@pierresportraitart.com

Address: 5283 Felland Road, Madison WI, 53718

Style: Portrait Journalism. Uses Couture style that’s more fun and  fashion influenced. We aim for shots that look like they’re more in the moment

Price: Wedding packages start at $2500.  The average client chooses a combination of products and package totaling about $4000

Awards: PPA Photographer of the Year 2009, The Best of The Knot - Photographer Pick 2008, 2009 & 2010, Wisconsin Bride 2009 - Best of Bride Finalist, WPPA - Best of Show Weddings 2009, Best Album 2010, Click this link to see a list of his presentations.

Guest blog by celebration specialist Marilee Karamanski | Cha Cha Tea

Guest blog by celebration specialist Marilee Karamanski | Cha Cha Tea

I recently got to sit with Maleah Moskoff of Cha Cha Tea and discuss the juxtaposition of our two businesses, and of course… what makes a great tea party! 

Usually, when you make a lovely cup of tea for yourself or yourself and a friend, it’s all about the sitting and relaxing! Tea does not have to be “fussy”, it just is.

Occasionally, however, one wants more flair! Rather than a quiet cup of tea, you’re looking for a tea party- with emphasis on the “party”. I have some suggestions for three different tea party themes! Having a theme for your gathering will give your guests a much more memorable experience if it’s done well.  You can invite your guests to share more of an experience with you.  It’s a little like stepping into a work of art or into a beautiful story. Entice your guests through all their senses.  Below, I’ll offer some elements for hosting three distinct parties. You’ll get some décor ideas, menus and of course suggestions for the perfect tea to complement each theme!

1.  Elegant Garden Tea Party

This is an understated elegant affair.  Inspired by the traditional Afternoon Tea in the British tradition.

Start with the anticipation and the tactile pleasure of Inviting your guests using floral or doily Stationery. Before they arrive, set the stage. Pull out the crocheted tablecloth.  If you don’t have one, a floral print or a pastel solid that coordinates with your tea set will be perfect.  Play ballet music or Chopin on your CD Player.  Arrange your best garden flowers or market flowers in a more natural/ loose arrangement. This is your opportunity to use your grandmother’s tea set, or that great china tea set you got fort your wedding.

Menu: Choose from some traditional afternoon tea selections.  I always like to combine sweets and savories. Here are some suggestions.  Tea Sandwiches, very small savory sandwiches ranging in flavor from cucumber to sardine, Scones, or Tea Cakes, which may include most any pastry.

Tea

Earl Gray is wonderful and elegant, or Cha Cha's Breakfast. Malty with notes of chocolate and raisin are both perfect complements for our elegant garden tea party!

2. Asian Tea Party

Invite people with lovely cards printed with Japanese artwork or images of the Japanese tea set.   Set the stage using any of the following: rice paper screens, hanging lanterns, origami or parasols. Decorate your table with a small bonsai tree or lucky bamboo.  Use a lovely Japanese tea pot with handle less cups on a Low table with cushions If you don’t happen to own a traditional low table, you can create one by using a folded up card table or other appropriate size boards put up on blocks. Be sure to give your guests comfortable cushions to sit on!

Menu: Choose an assortment of dim-sum type delicacies like the following: Gyōza  are a very popular dish in Japan. They can be served boiled as pot stickers or even deep-fried. Spring Rolls are like lovely fresh egg rolls- usually served cold or room temperature. Edamame, steamed baby soybeans have a lovely nutty flavor.  Mochi Is a fun dessert.  You can find mochi ice cream in some grocery stores, but click the picture for some recipes!

Tea

Ma-cha is elegant and unique.

Bancha is a green tea that is organic, herbacious, spring like and affordable

My personal favorite tea is Pu-erh

3. Mad Tea Party

This one’s inspired by the mad hatter’s un-birthday tea party in Wonderland.  It’s bright and playful!  Decorations are key here.  The bolder the better.  Use bright colors and giant flowers for the most impact.  Use an image from Alice or a deck of playing cards on your invitations.  Before guests arrive, put on fun wonderland inspired music.  Set the stage with the brightest tablecloth you can find!  A bright solid like fuchsia, lime or turquoise would be great!  If you’ve got a crazy teapot, first make sure it’s food safe by modern standards before you use it.  If you’re not sure, use it in your centerpiece as décor!  After your repast, invite your guests for a game of croquet!

Menu: Create a feast for the eye as well as the tongue with a selection of locally made cupcakes. Make tea sandwiches in the shapes of clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds.  For a whimsical effect add, “eat me” and “drink me” tags to your food and drink!

Tea:

Choose a fun tea like Cha-Cha’s Vanilla Coconut or Red Rooibos.

Once you’ve chosen your theme and planned your party, the most important thing is to remember to relax.  If it’s not done 30 minutes before your guests are due to arrive, let it go.  Your guests will have a lovely time if you are relaxed and you remember to enjoy the people you’ve invited to your table.  If you’d like help pulling it all together, Planned Spontaneity can help!